Santa and Mrs. Claus made their early trek down to Statesboro today.  For over 20 years they have taken a break from their incredibly busy schedule to visit with us and spend some time with a few VERY special boys and girls.   Again tomorrow, the very best girls and boys will get this early opportunity to give Santa a little advanced notice of their Christmas list.  Edie Grace and her cousin Olivia were the first to greet the Clauses on their arrival.  Edie Grace told me after Santa and Mrs. Claus had left for the day that they were both “magical”! 

I can not think of one word that describes this annual visit any more perfect than that.  Everything about Christmas is MAGICAL and having the opportunity to host this very special meeting with Santa is definitely extraordinarily MAGICAL for me – as it is for every child, parent and grandparent that experiences this with me.  There are few things in life that you will never forget – tomorrow for a few very exceptional children – I will create and document artistically one of these rare moments. 

Tonight was the ninth visit with Santa for Edie Grace and nine years later – it was just as magical as the first.  She has an annual tradition of exchanging books with the Clauses and giving them her list – this year in her own hand writing.  She also purchased the book for the Clauses this year with her own money that she earned working at the studio. 

As crazy and difficult as life is for all of us right now – this is the one experience that grounds us and allows us to step back and remember just how precious childhood really is.  We also can celebrate the incredible gift of parenting. 

Attached is the photographic journey down memory lane of the past nine years of Edie Grace’s Santa experiences!

We hope this year Santa brings you much health and happiness and a few of the most needed things on your Christmas list!

Please take a second and comment on your Lori Grice Santa Experiences….so other’s that may never have the opportunity to experience this firsthand can get a feeling of how magical it really is!  Many of our friends and neighbors do not and will never have the opportunity to have children of their own.  They share with me often how wonderful it is to get a peek into the world of parenting though this blog and through your stories.  Thanks for sharing these with them and me!