We ended up deciding to not do our Nativity this Christmas Eve for various reasons, opting instead to do Christmas day with all the kids and grandkids. We met Sarah in Salt Lake to give her the pajama presents for the kids to open that night. They had driven all night to and from a wedding in Cedar City and we didn't want to add more driving to their lives. Then we stopped at John and Ashleys to leave the pj presents for their kids. Sophie and Park and Ruby were all in the tub, but ran out one by one to rip open the packages and clothe their freshly cleaned soft skinned bodies in new PJ's for the big night. I also remembered to take them this vintage Santa Claus outfit I had found in a groovy little shop in Layton,
along with a vinyl LP of How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
I had meant to give them to Johnny for his birthday in November.
Johnny put on the suit and posed in front of the tree. I think it confused Parker a little.
Johnny needs to fill out this suit, don't you think?
It reminded me of a Christmas Eve years ago when we lived at the old house. The Volcanseks lived next door, and the twins, Jenny and Jonny, were at that age where they were not "believing" any more...maybe. So Fred and I concocted a plan where I would dress up in my Santa costume (indeed, I have one of my own) and walk around the outside of their house with my old set of horse sleigh bells, just in case they needed a nudge to hold on to the possibility of Santa's existence.
So late that night I dressed up. Such a suit fits rather nicely on me. I tiptoed out across the snowy common area dividing our houses and started ringing my bells, making sure I was visible from the bedroom window. All the while I am sending messages into the universe, since this didn't seem to fit in the category of sending up prayers..."Let them see me...and let them believe....Let them see me...and let them believe."
Next thing I know Jenny's face is smashed up against the bedroom window. I turn aside, lifting one leg after the other in the style of creeping discreetly, attempting to look like I was on my way to the next house, jingling my sleigh bells and making my bowl-full-of-jelly belly jiggle.
And then she calls out...
"What's Cori Connors doing in a Santa suit?"
Shoulda used prayer.