We’ve have six children and all of them believe in Santa Claus – ages 8 to 2 years old (plus one in the womb, well, he probably doesn’t believe in Santa). My suspicion is this might be the last year that the oldest believes that Saint Nicholas descends our chimney with gifts.

Here’s the latest:

Today after Holy Christmas Eve Mass (Dec 24) we’re getting into the van and I notice that our oldest (8 year old boy) is missing.

Turns out he was in line for confession. That’s cool with me, but the only thing is this: he went to confession yesterday – less that 24 hours ago.

“Didn’t you go to confession yesterday?” I asked. “Did you rob a bank or do something that I don’t know about?”

He replies: “I went to confession yesterday, but I want to go again today so that I can be pure for Saint Nicholas when he comes tonight.”

Pretty cute, and he caught me completely off guard. My wife and I had a good laugh about it later.

This just goes to show that a 8 year-old boy will do anything to get a “Red Ryder carbine-action, two hundred shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock and a thing which tells time.”

Either he knows Santa isn’t real and he’s trying to score points with me, or he’s “scrupulous for the sake of gifts from Saint Nick.”

Have a Merry Christmas!