DO YOU BELIEVE?!

So Ethan has been saying for the past month that he knows who Santa is. Really?! For some reason, given my memory has been awful lately, I think I still believed there was a Santa at age 9. No amount of Christmas movies or Christmas discussions has been able to sway or change his mind until this...

A friend of mine told me about this great website where you enter your child's information in and out pops a video of santa speaking directly to your child by name, which is pretty impressive in itself. Santa mentions where you live, mentions and shows pictures of what you have done this past year, mentions what you want most this year for Christmas and finally mentions if you've been naughty or nice. Well, Edyn's was easy. She was on the nice list. But for Ethan, we decided to try out the naughty list and see what his reaction would be. That's what you get for not believing, right?!

After school one day I picked up the kids and we headed to the hairdresser so Ethan could get a haircut. I mentioned to the kids that I had received an email for them from Santa. Since Ethan rolled his eyes I decided Edyn would get to watch hers first. Talk about a moment that melts your heart. Anyway, onto Ethan. I clicked on his email and as he watched he was a little puzzled that Santa had called him by name and had opened up his book with a picture of Ethan in it. How could this be?! Was I sensing a start of belief here? I hoped so. As Santa explained that he knew Ethan had taken a trip to Canada this past year and that he was an important part to his green zebra team Ethan was amazed that Santa even knew these things. Then a light bulb went off. Ethan started to ask me if I had found a website and had entered in all his information. What the heck, how does this kid know these things. Why can't he just BELIEVE!!! I denied it all, of course, and tried to convince him that the email was from Santa. As he continued to watch he remarked quietly "I don't know, maybe there is a Santa." Oh, oh, oh...is this working?! Then it came to the part where the elves put Ethan's report into a machine to see if he has been naughty or nice. All of a sudden the siren's go off and the elves frown. Santa reports that Ethan has been naughty this year. Ethan was not a happy camper and couldn't believe that Santa would say such a thing.

We sat in the car as he ate his burger and waited for his hair appointment. The car had been pretty silent. After about 10 minutes, Ethan threw his burger wrapper down and angrily said "I CAN'T believe I'm on the naughty list!". I immediately started laughing as I realized that for the last 10 minutes all this boy was mulling over in his head was how could he be on the naughty list. Poor boy, and I repeat, serves him right for not believing! I guess it is what it is...Ethan is growing up. Now I need to focus on damage control and make sure he doesn't ruin it for Edyn. Wish me luck!

If you are interested in seeing the kids' videos here is how you get there.

Log into the home page: www.portablenorthpole.tv/home
(sorry, I couldn't get the link to work)

EDYN'S LETTER
username: familyof4wolffs@gmail.com
pin: 9y1w

ETHAN'S LETTER
username: familyof4wolffs@gmail.com
pin: 278t

MAMA SO PROUD!!!

Mama so proud . . . Ethan scored his first touchdown today! Pretty impressive when he's one of the smallest on the team. The ball was pitched to him and the little guy just plowed over and through anything that stood in his way of the end zone. TOUCHDOWN!!! So proud of my #20!

Last April we signed Ethan up for tackle football not realizing what we were really signing ourselves up for. We were invited to the parent meeting to meet the coaches and the other boys on the team in August and WOWZERS! This team of 9 year olds practice four nights a week for two hours and then a game on Saturdays. They are worked over and over and drilled to the bone by the coaches until they get it right. We had no clue just how intense this football program was. Chad said that Ethan's team was learning plays that he didn't even learn until he was in high school where we grew up in Canada.

Ethan was pretty funny when after a week of practice he flexed his bicep and asked me if his muscles were getting bigger. Yes, Ethan may be small but he sure packs a punch when it comes to tackling. One night we showed up 30 minutes before practice ended and Coach Dean was having the boys practice their tackling skills. Each time Ethan would mow his teammate down with no problem. One particular tackle Ethan did it with such force that the poor kid running the ball had no chance. Coach pulled Ethan to the side and bent down to Ethan's height. Uh-oh, I thought Ethan was soon to get a scolding but no, the coach broke out into a yell "WHO HITS HARD?!" and Ethan echoed back "I HIT HARD" while pounding his chest with his fists. This went on for a good 20 seconds them going back and forth "WHO HITS HARD?!", "I HIT HARD!". It was pretty cute. I sure wish I had it on video. Today was game 2 for the Green Zebras and they are 2 and 0. We're on a winning streak and we hope it lasts all season!