We try to keep Santa real for as long as possible in our family. It's fun and we've been pretty good at it. Even when we can tell they have learned the truth, our kids pretend to believe for a year or two more.
We leave cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. We pretend to hear bells or see something flying in the sky. It's always so cute when they hear or see them too.
We make boot prints in the snow and leave the gnawed carrots outside. Sometimes Santa accidentally leaves something behind like a glove and we have to put it in a package to be sent to the North Pole.
One year, when my nephew was starting not to believe he wanted to call Santa at the North Pole. It took some doing but his mom was able to find the special number. He was amazed when Mrs. Claus put Santa on the phone and Santa knew (thanks to his older brother) all the special presents he wanted.
Now that my kids are older, our tradition is we all decorate the tree while listening to and singing Christmas carols, drink eggnog and eat homemade Christmas cookies. And we each have a special ornament we "fight" to see who can get on the highest/best spot of the tree. The entire time the tree is up the ornaments keep getting switched. We try not to get caught changing them.
Now, I can't wait for Christmas.
