I had something silly and a bit snarky to talk about today, but then I had to take all the ornaments off the tree so we could start over with the lights. I finally understand how lights make people insane. We have this ornament that is a long tube, about the length of a half piece of paper, and it says “Letters To Santa” on it. We write our lists to Santa the week before Christmas, roll them up and stick them in that tube, and shortly after Santa swings by in the middle of the night and grabs them. It’s awesome. I took that ornament off the tree tonight and peeked inside, and there was something in it already.
I took the paper out, unfolded it, and saw this:

Behind that was another sheet of paper:

That says, “Dear Santa I have been verry good and I hope I have a verry good Christmas. Love, 2of3
PS: Do kids right to you?”
My 8 year old, my child who cannot go more than 45 seconds without asking for gum or milk or a back scratch, wrote his own letter to Santa and asked for NOTHING. He asked for a good Christmas. Not Hot Wheels, not skateboards, not video games, just a good Christmas. And then he gave Santa a gift.
This is me, speechless. And very much so in love.








Ashley @ mrs007.com
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 0:46That is the sweetest story ever! I have the exact opposite thing going on here. I actually tried to find pictures of poor children on Google images to show my spoiled rotten brat of a child how blessed we are. She is a lovely child but she wants everything!
Ashley @ mrs007.com wrote..Period’s aren’t just punctuation
Michelle
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 1:01What a cutie pie!
Michelle wrote..Random Tuesday Thoughts: Late Night Buzzed Version
Special K
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 1:11LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!! :)
Lee the MWOB Queen
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 1:32Now I want that Letter to Santa tube ornament.
Right on with that love child of yours…and his giving heart.
Lee the MWOB Queen wrote..MWOB is kicking off the week on a MISSION!
Jen
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 3:13What a FANTASTIC idea!
Today I mailed our letter to Santa. I didn’t get a chance to read it because The Girl was watching me seal the envelop. She’d sealed her OWN letter by folding it multiple times, then pasting it with stickers. Hmmm…come to think of it, I don’t believe Santa’s letter made it to the mailbox yet.
BRING OUT THE STEAM!
Jen wrote..Are Pennies for Real (Tender)?
SingleParentDad
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 4:11Awesome.
I was at a Christmas show with my son recently, and one of the points that it made was that kids don’t wish for things anymore, they just send giant lists they have made during the year.
2 of 3 has it licked.
SingleParentDad wrote..The X In Xmas
badgerworks/traddad
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 4:20That is very sweet. I also am getting busy making my tube ornament.
badgerworks/traddad wrote..Hanging in the kitchen
Ali
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 4:25Okay, that’s just gorgeous.
Ali wrote..The end is nigh (or super-happy blog fodder Monday)
Melisa
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 6:12Good for him!
And good for you: you’re obviously doing something *very* right. (You DO get to take partial credit in these circumstances, you know!)
Melisa wrote..Nothing Personal, Smokers!
SciFi Dad
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 6:30Well, now you have an opening for the phone call.
SciFi Dad wrote..Suck
Goldfish
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 7:07“…or a back scratch.” I adore this!
Goldfish wrote..Three Kids Christmas Blowout: Stocking Stuffers
Maggie
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 7:092of3 is a very sweet boy!
Maggie wrote..She’s only 3…How can this be???
Tammy
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 7:25Would your son like to come over and play? My 9 year old might learn a thing or two.
Tammy wrote..Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
RobMonroe
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 7:54First off, that’s freaking awesome.
Secondly, did you buy a tube with this specifically in mind, or just bought a tube and used it for this? I’m intrigued by the idea.
RobMonroe wrote..Countdown to 30 – 2008 – Today!
ohmommy
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 8:03Awwwww….
So stinking cute. I want one of those.
ohmommy wrote..What happens in OH, stays in OH.
Kel
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 8:16awe, so sweet!
~K
Rachel
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 8:32That is so sweet. What a wonderful Christmas gift for you!
Katherine
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 8:35What a sweetheart he is. : )
Katherine wrote..Misfits
justsomethoughts
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 8:36beautiful. thats why kids are kids and….well….adults are adults.
really sweet.
justsomethoughts wrote..perhaps he was the last…
Kim
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 8:37That really is too sweet.. and the drawing is pretty sweet too!! :) I love the freakles he gave himself.
Kim wrote..Paying it Forward with a Twist
Natalie
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 8:41Oh, how incredibly sweet. You are doing something right, that’s for sure. :)
Natalie wrote..Caught in a Moment
Tiaras & Tantrums
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 8:45Love that ornament!
Soooo sweet!!
Robina
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 8:48That is just so very sweet! See, you HAVE done something right!
moo
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 8:50This made me weep, just a little. Damn you, pregnancy hormones!!
moo wrote..the heir …
Krystal
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 8:59Kids surprise you that is for sure!! That is great that he wrote that. You have taught him well.
Krystal wrote..Autism Twitter Day
matt
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 9:29That is an awesome tradition! And an all-around great post. Glad to hear that it IS still possible to teach your kids what the holiday is really all about. I will certainly try to do it with mine.
matt wrote..Why I Shouldn’t Handle Sharp Instruments
Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing]
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 9:32You’re raising him right, Mama.
Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] wrote..If Only I Were as Kind as Mrs. Goodbee
Daisy
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 9:46That is great… I love it when kids are so sweet they make you cry. It totally makes up for the rest of the time!
Daisy wrote..Oil Love
Kate
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 9:52Awwww….sweet boy. They do redeem themselves now and again, don’t they?
Kate wrote..Freezing
Choch
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 9:56He is a special one!!!! I am a bit teary :) Love you
Choch wrote..Not much going on
jessica
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 10:00Keep that letter forever and ever and ever!!
jessica wrote..Friendly Letter
Marge
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 10:00Maybe just this once, Santa should write a short note back assuring him that kids do write to him but their letters are not usually so selfless and that he is looking forward to seeing 2of3′s wish list. Keep the faith alive a little longer.
Marge wrote..Eureka!
Betsey Booms
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 10:04What a sweet kiddo!
Betsey Booms wrote..And I Call Myself A Good Mother
Jim
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 10:10Awww…that’s great. Now to break my son of the gimmes.
Jim wrote..The Corner Psychos – The Revenge
anne nahm
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 10:12that’s really very sweet!
anne nahm wrote..Good Deed for the Day
tracey
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 10:21Awwww!! That’s sweet. I love collecting their Christmas letters…
tracey wrote..Tears from the Past… part 3
ali
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 10:30aw. i love him!
ali wrote..hair wars
Vic
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 11:01Your 2 of 3 is a rare and awesome breed!
Vic wrote..Pay It Forward
Ashley
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 11:39I would say how sweet that is, but I’m wondering if 2 of 3 is just betting on Santa knowing what he wants already (since Santa seems to have psychic powers already) or, maybe by the time he got to the end, he forgot to add his list? That kind of stuff happens to me all the time, wait…what was I saying?
Oh right…
Or maybe 2 of 3 really meant it all like that. Yeh. Let’s just go with that.
Ashley
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 11:41By the way, why isn’t your commentluv type thing picking up my latest blog posts? It hates me already?
Ashley wrote..How To Make Your Own Christmas Wreath
Ashley
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 11:41(Oh look, magic.)
Ashley wrote..How To Make Your Own Christmas Wreath
Kori
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 11:53Apparently Sam wrote one to Santa because he got one back. And it is a good thing that the older kids told me what he wrote; it would NOT have occurred to me that there would be only two things on his list: an Easy-Bake Oven and a Chemistry set. I think I like your kid better than mine.
Kori wrote..Bling and a Meme
Momo Fali
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 11:59This is me with goosebumps.
VegasDad
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 12:262of3 deserves something special for that.
VegasDad wrote..chronicles of regression and a milestone
Dawn
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 12:51The picture totally cracked me up…then the letter made me all warm and fuzzy…That kids a keeper…
Karen MEG
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 15:06That is unbelievably sweet… I like the picture too!
The tube idea, brillers…
Karen MEG wrote..Weekly Winners #49 – Oh, the gall
Coach J
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 15:32What a fantastic idea! I’m totally stealing it. Thanks.
Coach J wrote..Everything I Need to Know About Life I Learned in Grad School
the planet of janet
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 15:39*cry*
the planet of janet wrote..Haiku Friday: the love me always edition
Travis Erwin
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 15:54It’s great when your kids surprise you. I know I always enjoy it.,
ms picket to you
Tuesday, 16 December, 2008 at 17:05get him anything he wants. anything.
ms picket to you wrote..Does My Butt Look Big In These Pajamas?