We had St. Nicholas Day a little late.

Because we suck, mostly.

But we did have it, and it was good, and everybody was happy.

Not long after St. Nicholas Day Evangeline came home and told me a story. She said "Today my teacher told us something that I know isn't true. She was just pretending. Mrs. Dulligan said she was home with her husband, I forgot his name, maybe Mr. Dulligan? Yeah, that's his name, they were home and she said she heard a noise outside, and she looked outside and she saw a reindeer! With a red nose! And I know she really didn't. I think she just said that so that the other kids who think Santa is real would think it was fun. That's silly! Reindeers ("Reindeer, sweetie, not reindeers") reindeer don't live here, and definitely not Rudolph."

Of course, if you don't remember previous years you might wonder about why we bother with St. Nicholas Day if the nieces Know About Santa, and that's because it's fun. The night they put out their shoes-with-celery we went to the store. And as we were there Ana said "Can we get some of that pomegranate juice? Mommy really likes it, and she'll be really surprised to find some in her shoe tomorrow."

That's magic, right there. You can keep your Santa is Real, and you can do whatever you like to maintain the lie illusion for yourself. If you want to make "snowy" footprints on your carpet or if you want to tromp around on the roof at night ringing bells, be my guest. (And please use all appropriate safety precautions, thanks.) I will take the simple magic of "Let's surprise Mommy by getting her something she likes" over that any day of the week.

Huh!

Apparently there's going to be an eclipse tonight - or early tomorrow, rather - that, as it coincides with the solstice, promises to be spectacular.

Maybe I'll ask Jenn if she can wake Ana long enough to see it. At least I'll take a pic.

By the way, guess what I found on my porch today?

A box of books!

Apparently, I won them! I had no idea! I mean, I remember entering the giveaway, but I didn't know I'd won, and thought I'd only get one book out of it, not five. They're not all my choice (indeed, one I'll likely donate right to the school, and another is the second out of a series, so I'll drop by the Strand and see if I can get the first cheap), but still - yay! That's a good surprise on a dreary day.