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I've decided that this is just not the right time of the year to be doing Healthy Friday posts. I'll get back to that after the new year. I think you'll agree that no matter how much we try to be healthy right now, with parties, gatherings, baking... it's just not gonna happen. Or maybe I'm just talking about myself. I say, bring on a few extra pounds. I put EA Sports Active on my Christmas list to my mom so I'll have that after things get back to normal. (if you really, really want something for Christmas all you have to do is put it on the list to my parents. They are so unoriginal that you know you'll get everything you tell them!)
So, did you see on Twitter yesterday that I made some toffee?
It's so darn good I just have to give you the recipe. You're welcome.
Mrs. Suddath's Toffee Recipe
2 sticks butter
1 cup brown sugar
Saltines (a little over one sleeve)
1 package Reeses Peanut Butter chips (10 oz)
1 package Nestle Semi Sweet Chocolate chips (12 oz)
Lightly grease cookie sheet.
Lay saltines all over pan.
Melt butter - add brown sugar – boil for 4 minutes – stir constantly (you can do it – it's only 4 minutes!)
Pour over crackers.
Bake at 350 for 6 minutes ( surface will be all bubbly)
Sprinkle PB and choc. Chips over entire surface.
Let sit for 10 minutes.
Spread with rubber spatula or wooden spoon – until choc and pb mix and cover everything.
Put in fridge – until hard – break into pieces – store in fridge
Now. About Santa. I'm conflicted this year and need your help. The kids are growing up. How long do we keep this Santa stuff going? Peanut already knows. We told her when she started 4th grade. She talked about so many other kids in her class not believing in Santa and thought we should get it all out there before 1) she believed until she was a teenager and 2) she got made fun of. Go ahead and laugh but another reason I wanted to tell her was because the schools in Indiana taught body changes in 4th grade. I really couldn't handle the thought of knowing my daughter would still believe in Santa and learn about Aunt Flo at the same time. Those don't mix in my opinion so we spilled the beans. She was pretty upset at first, then really excited that she'd get to help be Santa, the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny (yeah, once you open that first can of worms the rest just kind of pour all out).
So here we are. Princess and Little Dude are 9 and in 3rd grade. They talk about kids not believing. And after watching The Santa Clause over the weekend, I thought for sure we were in for some questions. Plus we're tired of Santa bringing the loot. He always brings the best stuff and makes us look bad. This year Santa is bringing little things and the nice presents are from us!
I'm pretty much decided that we'll tell them/they'll find out before next Christmas. My dilemma is this. When? How? I would kind of like to do it sooner and get it out of the way. And that way when next Christmas rolls around, we're not worried about telling them and killing their dreams when they're already thinking about Santa coming.
Are they already too old? Let me tell you a little secret. I was a very naive kid. Okay, more like just plain dumb. My parents let the Santa thing go until I was nearing my teenage years and when they told me they just kind of blurted it out making me feel stupid that I hadn't figured it out by then. I don't want that to be my kids.
Sure that takes away some of the fun, but it also opens up a new tradition. In Superman's family, once everyone stops believing in Santa you get to stay up until midnight on Christmas Eve. Back in the days before kids we used to be at his parents house on Christmas Eve, eating, watching movies, waiting until midnight. At midnight, his Grandma would call. She had a huge grandfather clock and we'd all listen on the phone as her clock rang 12 times... it was officially Christmas! Then we'd open presents!
Superman's Grandma has since passed, but the rest of the tradition can live on. It's been postponed for quite some time since Santa came into the picture. But with us living so far from family now, eventually Christmas morning will fall on a weekend (like next year) and we won't be home for Santa to come. That's always been important to us, him coming to our house and not finding us somewhere else.
Anyway, that's my point I guess. Next year schedules start getting screwy, they'll be in 4th grade... when and how should Santa get the axe?
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I love that toffee recipe, but never tried it with peanut butter chips - making this for sure - maybe for Christmas Eve.
We told ours when they seriously asked. And I mean, they asked is there a Santa and I replied, do you really want that answer, and they said yes.
I kinda like how your eldest liked to 'be santa' when you told her. Maybe you could donate some toys for tots or something that would help them 'be santa' to someone less fortunate.
I kinda like the midnight tradition you had, it sounds really sweet.
maybe ask your eldest if she was happy at the age she found out or if she wanted to find out sooner.
I like what Boboda suggested-- ask Peanut for her input on this. She knows the twins and could probably come up with an idea we all never thought of.
I found out in 3rd grade that Santa wasn't real. Broke my heart. But you know what? The SPIRIT of Santa is very real. The holiday spirit, the traditions, the love is all very real.
All my nieces and nephews know Santa is not real... although Alec and Christine (10 and 8 yrs old) want so badly to believe. If they want to believe, I would say let them. We leave it with a "you decide" and then they can work it out for themselves. Personally, I think because Santa is not real, it doesn't have to KILL the Christmas spirit. Some kids think once they find out Santa is not real, Christmas is all a fake. So to me, it would be important that they understand Christmas is NOT fake... it is very much real and that Santa is just part of the spirit of the season.
And the "you decide" factor? You still get to threaten them and say "Santa may be watching?!" and it still has some effect because "Who knows?"
I think I was 9 when I finally figured it out... my mom really wanted to just tell me but my dad loved that I still believed so he wanted to keep it going... it didn't matter when I overheard my sister on the phone telling her friend that my parents had gotten her new Ugg boots for Christmas... when really they were supposedly from Santa... I was 9 so I put it all together myself.
But then I didn't want my parents to know that I knew the truth so I kept pretending that I didn't know. I did tell my grandma though so she must have told my parents eventually because it became more just something fun and not a big secret.
They do still pick one or two presents and write "Santa" on the tag just for fun.
Anyway, all that to say I'm not really sure what I would recommend... I would hate for them to get made fun of because they still believe but it is a little magical at the same time.
I like the first comment...I would wait until they ask you about it...then tell them. I think Bradley finally asked when he was 10 and my sister told him then...but I would also ask Peanut and see what she thinks:)
I am maiing that toffee this weekend!! Yummy!!
I don't know what to suggest on the Santa question. In my family when asked if Santa was real, Mom's answer was, "of course he is." When we were older, she told us that Santa Claus is the spirit of giving at Christmas and that as long as she was alive, Santa would be, too.
I have a different opinion I assume based on my experiences growing up. I realized Santa wasn't real when I was in 3rd grade and saw my grandma wrapping the presents Santa brought us. My mom never lied to us but tried to keep the magic alive and said "if you don't believe Santa won't bring you anything."
I think kids figure it out on their own and I don't see a need for ruining the "magic" part. Hubby does agree with you that it is not fair that Santa brings all the good presents but I find that is part of the magic. Santa presents are always the "wow" presents.
As for my kids. My son is 9 and in 4th grade. I highly doubt he really believes but when he asks I just tell him, "if you don't believe Santa won't bring you anything." My 9 year old daughter is in 3rd grade and swears she saw Santa in her room last year and he is skinny not fat (probably didn't hurt that I won one of those I Caught Santa phots). I don't want her imagination to run wild or her to be made fun of so I question some of what she saw. Hubby says it must have been a vivid dream, either that or we had an intruder in our home last Christmas eve. My youngest is 6 and in 1st grade so I think she is too young to stop believing. I am also concerned that once the older kids know for sure they will ruin it for her. They will talk with other kids and figure it out. Once they do Santa will still bring them presents in the spirit of Christmas. I guess every family has to do what works for them.
I too was the naive child and I remember I was about 11 or 12 when my cousin (younger than me) told me about Santa...I remember feeling so dumb. I dont really know what to tell you but I would have wanted to be told by my parents and not someone else.
They may already not believe. I kept up the charade because I had a much younger brother, but knew the truth in 1st grade.
I would just ask them what they think next time they say that Santa is fake. Or, better yet, tell them their friends are right, but it means they can open some presents on Christmas Eve. Ease into the pain! ;-)
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