Santa comes to Stones...

Dear Nicky,

So this morning Mom and June and I came to your school party to see Santa with you. At first we hung back, just watching you and your buddies. Then Junie found you and gave you a hug and you were happy to see her but puzzled, too, as if wondering, What's she doing here? Then you saw Mom and rushed over to her and gave her a big hug. We milled about for a while and said hello to various people, then Santa appeared and eventually you and Junie went up to sit on his lap and receive your presents. You guys are at an age where you're fascinated by Santa and yet apprehensive of him, so no one freaked out but you guys didn't smile a whole lot either, at least not in the pictures I took. Afterward I took you guys home and gave you lentils for lunch. Then your sitter came and I took off for a while. When I came back I did the trash and the recycling, then made you some veggie nuggets for dinner, which you ate while watching TV. Neither of you kids napped this afternoon, so you were exhausted when the day finally came to an end, and you went to bed easily and gratefully.

Love,
Dad