Unwrapping: 'Tis The Day After Christmas

Happy Boxing Day!
Well, Santa has visited, food and goodies have been eaten - probably to excess- and presents have been opened. Either all of the fuss and worry has been for naught or it's only just begun. How many of you will be standing in return lines this week? Don't you wish Santa had a return policy where he comes back to your house, retrieves the items that need to be returned and brings back its replacement or a refund?? 


Well, my hope is that the kids that my hubby, Kevin, and I visited on Friday evening were so thrilled with their gifts that Santa won't have to use that return policy. Our Santa Visits usually go off without a hitch but this year was a little different for us and for the kids.  [sigh]

You see, I, me, myself, Mrs Claus screwed up and left one of Santa's fur-trimmed boots at home. If I had lived closer and if I didn't know for a fact that traffic on the highway between my hubby's workplace and my house (a mere17 miles) was a virtual standstill, I might have gone home to retrieve the boot. Well, hubby dear, Santa refused to dress as Santa telling us all that he felt he would look ridiculous dressed in uniform wearing his work shoes rather than his boots.  I felt horrible. All I could think about was those sweet kids who had no homes, not much in the way of belongings and they were waiting for Santa to come to their party.

Over sized everything!

SO! I grabbed Santa's over sized red fur-trimmed, reindeer button trimmed coat and put it on. I snatched up his over sized fur-trimmed hat, which I later learned he had stuffed his gloves inside which might account for the way it kept listing toward the pompom side, and put it on.  We climbed into my Blue Meanie (my name for my Ford Focus) with me behind the wheel, with what felt like a furry animal between my legs where the coat was bunched, and sped off toward the homeless shelter. We arrived only minutes late, retrieved the gifts from the car and set up near the Christmas Tree. I left my camera in the car because I didn't think anyone would want to see pictures of Mrs. Claus substituting for Santa and didn't think hubby could handle being Santa's Helper and take pictures but now I wish I had brought it in.  I'm going to try to get copies of Mrs. Claus with the kids from the person taking pictures so if I do, I'll share later.

As soon as the kids came out and saw me, they all asked about Santa. We told them that Santa had a sick reindeer and had to stay at the North Pole because it was only one more day before his big run and he needed them all healthy. One of the kids immediately asked the most obvious question - which one? Kevin was quick and announced it was Rudolph - that his light was out in his nose. The kids just shrugged and that was that.  

As soon as I sat down by the tree, the kids were on me like a hoard of wild animals. They all wanted to sit with Mrs. Claus. The first little girl asked me about my clothes. I told her that since Santa couldn't make it that he had allowed me to borrow his coat and hat. She smiled sweetly and nodded her head before announcing, "that's why it's too big for you, right?"

The kids were great, all smiles and happiness which lightens the heart and fills it with Christmas cheer. It's amazing to think these little ones have no homes to call their own and yet, share with each other, take care of each other and smile at the simplest pleasure. They were excited about their gifts like any child would be but just getting to sit next to Mrs. Claus, get a hug and a candy cane seemed wonderful enough to most of them.  

Mrs. Claus waiting under the tree. ; )

Now I know why the guys like to play Santa ... it's the most incredible feeling in the world. I think the kids were as excited as I was and seemed more relaxed than I've ever seen them.  Kevin and I have been doing Santa Visits since 2001 and this group was amazing. They all gathered around me whereas they normally hang back a bit. They were asked to move back and wait so they plopped their fannies onto the floor and waited patiently. When I would ask who's next, all hands would go up with a resounding "Me!" 

Mrs. Claus and her crazy, alien-eyed, Rottie - Marco

I suspect it was because it was Mrs. Claus rather than Santa. Oh, Santa is loved and they get excited about his visit but I think Mrs. Claus was a bit less intimidating.  I think it was because as a woman, Mrs. Claus is more approachable and because she doesn't wear that big white beard and they can see her face, they felt more comfortable. No matter the reason, I had a great time. Kevin smiled the entire time he was helping and got to see the whole adventure from where I usually do. Thanks for allowing me to play Mrs. Claus/Santa this year ... don't be surprised if I 'accidentally' leave something behind some other year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas weekend, got everything they asked Santa for and more, had good company and lots of love and laughter. I hope y'all will come back and visit me on Wednesday, Dec 28th - have I got a wonderful treat for you! I'll just say that a New York Time's bestselling author will be visiting us and she's giving away a delightful treat. So come on back folks!

Happy Reading Everyone!

Unwrapping: Our Santa Visit is Today!

Less than two days left until Christmas is upon us!

Today is a busy day for me and Santa (my hubby) with some last minute preparations, I will load up the sleigh (my car) and take Santa his uniform. He'll dress and practice his Ho Ho Ho's and then we'll be off to the local homeless shelter where they throw a party for the children in residence. Santa will greet the kids, while some will be so excited that even seeing a six foot four inch Santa walk in won't deter them, others will shy away in awe. Eventually, nearly all will either climb into his lap or sit alongside to talk with Santa and receive their gifts.

Santa and a little fellow who isn't quite sure.

Our Santa Visit to the homeless shelter has become a tradition with us so much so that I made Santa his own Santa suit a few years back. Rich velvet, fur trim and even shiny gold buttons with reindeer on them. Fur trimmed hat, boots and a big buckled belt finish off the fashion - Santa is sight to see.

I know the children will be thrilled especially since the budget allowed for each child to get what they wished for from Santa this year which makes me, Santa's shopping elf/Mrs. Claus, very happy. 


Santa and I would like very much to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, or Happy Holidays ... whatever you do celebrate or don't, we don't judge, we just hope it's the best ever.  Thank you for visiting UNWRAPPING ROMANCE and I look forward to treating you to more delightful visits to come.

Santa waiting patiently to meet his fans
(he grew his beard out and I painted it white, he's not quite that grey yet)

So, have you been naughty or nice this year?
What would you like to ask Santa to bring you this year?

Well, whether you've been naughty or nice, I hope you get everything you wish for and more.

                       I hope Santa leaves something wonderful, delightfully sexy and oh so,
                                       romantic beneath your Christmas tree such as ...

A Wonderful New Romance Novel!!

Merry Christmas Everyone

and

Happy Reading! 

Unwrapping: Santa and Mrs. Claus - A Magical Romance

Ever wonder how Santa met and married Mrs. Claus?

I love Christmas movies and even the old claymation specials like Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. I'm always very happy when they start running them. 
Call me sentimental but I think Christmas time is one of the most romantic times of the year perhaps even more romantic than Valentine's Day. 

My favorite holiday movies usually involve the magic of the season and a visit to the North Pole. These Santa movies tend to incite my imagination and make be wonder about such things as, are the elves immortal like Santa, do they fall in love, marry and have little elves?

But the questions that inevitably cross my thoughts concern Santa and Mrs. Claus. How did they meet? How did he woo her? And most importantly, how did he ever convince her to live at the North Pole?

Well, my curiosity got the better of me this year so I wrote a letter to the North Pole. No, I didn't write to Santa but to Mrs. Claus. I assumed it would get lost among all of the other letters to Santa or possibly opened by one of the elves who wouldn't understand that it was for Mrs. Claus but guess what? I got a reply ... color me Merry!

I was so excited to receive a response that I just had to share it with you all.  [giggle]
And I think she thought I was a kid. 

What a delightful letter she sent me!!

Of course, now this leaves me with so many more questions.

Is Santa an elf or a human who was raised with elves?

What was so special about their marriage that suddenly their little village was engulfed in a magical winter wonderland?

Does everyone there live forever? 

[Sigh] I don't suppose I could get a letter back in time for Christmas and I'm sure that Mrs. Claus is busy, so I guess I'll have to wait until next year to find out ... the rest of the story.

I do believe there's a kind of magic that surrounds the Christmas Season.  Do you? 

 

Happy Reading Everyone and busy, busy, there's only just over two weeks left before Nick leaves Merry behind to make his night long journey 'round the world.