DEAR SANTA

I don't mean to toot my own horn here, but Layla is a smarty pants galore. The girl figured out the concept of addition all by herself. The other day we were driving home from Rita's house and Layla asked how many 5 plus 5 was. I said, figure it out and no later than ten seconds passed when she answered correctly. So I started quizzing her on the subject and she didn't hesitate and didn't miss an answer! I'd love to say "Oh yes, we've been working on our math skills all summer," but that would be a lie... she's just a smart little cookie. With yummy cookie cheeks that I like to nibble on.

So when she asked to write a letter to Santa on Wednesday right during the middle of dinner prep (of course... it's like a silent siren sounds for all children to suddenly need everything within the 30 minutes it takes to get dinner made) I whipped out a sheet of scrap paper and a pencil and thought she would just scribble  a few makeshift words and call it good. Nope. I shoulda known better. She wanted a bonafied, legit letter to the Big Man at the North Pole and she wanted it word for word. I took a ruler to the page and plotted out some lines and she slowly and steadily asked how to spell each word in her carefully planned letter. "Mom, how do I spell DEAR?" And while I boiled lasagna noodles and saute'd spinach I'd respond, "D... now next to the D put an E.... next to the E put an A....." You get the picture. An hour and a half passed by and we had half a letter. Her hand was tired and I was bored so we agreed to rest and start again in the morning. Another hour spent finishing the letter and about thirty minutes drawing a picture -  and her first hand written and independently illustrated letter to Santa was ready to stuff in the envelope.

While we were discussing what to say in the letter we talked about the children who don't get toys on Christmas because they don't live in a house of their own. I asked Layla the open ended question if we could do anything about that and she volunteered to sacrifice her favorite Lalalo0psy doll and scooter. She excitedly told me how she would leave it under the tree for Santa to take to someone who wasn't going to get any toys. I was a proud to be the Mama of that smart little cookie.

Dear Santa:
I have been
a very good
helper with my
2 brothers this
year. Could you
please bring
me a Calico
Critter Ice Cream
Truck? I know
that some
 kids don't have
toys, so I want
to give them my
lalaloopsy
toy. I'll leave it
under the tree
Layla

A picture of her Lalalo0psy doll so Santa would know which one to take for the homeless children.

Aren't her e's just the best e's you've ever seen!? And those giant y's i can't get enough.
Dear Santa: Please don't let my Layla grow up at all this year. She is the perfect age and I don't ever want her to stop coloring, dancing, playing, singing,  and imagining like she does now.
Sincerely,
One happy mom.