Dear Santa

You may recall last year, when my paper published some children's letters to Santa.  Those of you who don't get the Virginia Leader, will never fully appreciate how out of the loop I am.  There is no world news section, so if I didn't listen to NPR, I'd have no idea what was happening in the world.  Also, since we don't have cable, or an antenna, I don't watch the news.  And I only see the same 5 commercials they repeat on the internet, so I don't know the hot kids' toys out there.  So I can't assume that any of these letters are spelled wrong.  Anyway, these are exact copies.  

So this year, here's the gems from the local 1st and 2nd graders.

Dear Santa:

I've been good

• "I've been good because my Mommy told me so." -Dusty Fox
• "I have tried to be good but sometimes I am a little bad." -Devon Edwards
• "I have fed our cats when my Mommy told me to.  I have got in trouble some, but not too much." -Madison McGuire
• "I have been very good this year.  I know I have been because I make good grades in school and Mommy and Daddy never put me in timeout like my brothers!" -Lakyn Simmons
• "I have been good because I picked up trash at my school during recess." -Lance Johnson
• "I use my manners and say my prayers" -Grace Perkins
• "I have been good this year and have helped my sister up and down the basement stairs." -Abbie White
• "I help Mom and Day put the dirty clothes on the right pile. . . . Please leave my Dad a pile of rocks and a huge helmet." -Michael T. Woods (???)

 Good Questions 

• "What is it like when it's not Christmas Eve?  What do you do?" -Alex Truman
• "How do you get your money?" - Aidan McGlothlin
• "Do you have a dog?" - Gracie Howard
• "How does Mrs. Claus help you?" -Hope Smith
• "Does Mrs. Claus cook food for you?" -Kain Petch
• "What is inside the igloos at the North Pole?" - Benjamin Poe
• "Do your elves wear a hat like yours?" -Dylan Robison
• "Do you help make the toys?" -Mallorie Dove
• "Who is your favorite reindeer?  I hope you can make it from one side of the world to the other!" -Jonathan Lloyd
• "Is there a big machine that makes the toys in your workshop?" - Austin Byrd
• "Can you come to dinner on Christmas?" - DJ Albert
• "Was I a good girl?" -Kandice Cooper
• "Do you make snowmen at the North Pole?" -Camron Moore
• "Does your back hurt from carrying all those toys?" -Brody Smith
• "Do the elves get paid good for their hard work?" -Rhett Keffer
• "I hope the reindeer are fine.  Have they been good or bad?" -Brenna Ramos
• "How is that Mrs. Claus?" -Devin Eads
• "How much weight have you lost?" -Dylan Heath

Strange Requests

• "I want a magic bell make it triple plus triple magic bells." -Caleb B.
• "a devil costume" -Ivy 
• "I want a laptop and doll learning games. White cat." -Dallas (???)
• "A Super Hero Caller.  I made this one up.  So wake me up and I'll tell you about it. Magical shoes and gloves that stick to walls so I can climb up them.  I made this one up too." -Brady Sizemore
• "For Christmas I want a sea monster that wiggles its tail and I want a hug.  Thank you." -Josiah Hodges
• "I want a xbox 360 and a Ipod and a Iphone and a real truck." - Braxton Charlton  (sorry kid, don't think that's happening)
• "So, I would like a chair with wheels for my desk, a real vacuum cleaner, a journals and some cars." -Will (I think this kid must be awesome around the house.  Johnny thinks he wants to take it apart. He's probably right.  But a mom can dream . . . )
• "I think my dad wants a Petty Blue GT Mustang, but I'm not sure if it will fit in your sleigh?" -Gavin Faw
• "a pointer (so I can play school)." -Jada Davis & Jaslyn Harris 
• "I would like a D.S. and a big brother." -Ethan Jude
• "a red ink pen." -R.J.Steenken (really?  that's easy.)
• "Can you bring my brother something that he can take apart." -Abby Mitchem
• "a ukulele." -Miles Ritenour

Local Flavor

• "I want a gun.  I love guns." -Dakota Gregory
• " . . . gun to go hunting with so I can get a deer, . . . " -Sean Page
• "I want a pogo stick, VT bed stet, VT hat, VT Bing Bag chair, VT jacket, VT shoes, cowboy boots, camouflage hat, VT pinky Bands, VT pillow, VT pillow pet, VT trash can, VT rug, a touchable deer lamp, tools, toolbox with lock, key, cuddle kitten, VT football, VT hair, VT outfit, VT paint for my room, VT socks, VT TC and a cat and dog." -Tyler Cody (VT stands for Virginia Tech)
• "Daddy wants Hokies to win a bowl game." -Genna Martin
• "And give thanks to Jesus because it's his Birthday." -Makayla Montgomery
• "Also, bring my daddy a new gun called the 'Judge' . . . I will leave you a BIG piece of turkey and some Coke to drink." -Frankie Myers
• " . . . some money and a pair of tie-dyed glasses to wear. Last year we left you little balloons, but this year we will leave you chocolate cookies and some peanut better cookies.  We will put them downstairs by the VT Hokie light." -Bailey Lester

Kids

• "I have been a good girl you can get me a presents if you want to." -Brianna Cook
• "I would like a tower that you built a train set on a table with lots and lots of trains and a tower to the train set. . . . a go cart with a helmet and suit.  Must be a size 7 race car shirt and 7 pants." -Blaine T.
• " . . . and all the children that didn't get presents to have a very good Christmas." -Caleb S.
• "And a ds and a movie cald Barbey a fashion fairy . . . And some hi hels in the size 2 and 3." -Madison Hale
• " . . . and a monster high dvd loud tuch and an monster high bookbag and an monster high book and monster high poptuch and a cace and a monster High cd and xoxoxo" -Jesse Atwell
• "I hope you bring me presents that I like and want so I hope the presents you bring me is a digital camera, . . . " -Randi McDonie
• "I have been good.  I love to play with all of these toys! This is all I really really want all of these toys! They are fun to play with." -Kasadee Ferguson (you just know her mom is refusing to get her stuff she won't play with)
• "I know Christmas to some people is all about the presents.  But to me its not its about the birth of Jesus Christ.  I do enjoy the gifts." -Brooklyn Ellison
• "Thank you for my cheerleader doll last year and for my new baby sister, even if she was born in January." -Destiny Sadler
• "I want a blow and arrow" - Hunter Long (I think this is supposed to be bow.  Super cute.)
• "I want new pink boots with Hello Kitty on them.  I think Walmart has those kinds of boots." -Casey Golembiewski
• "I like Christmas and Santa is the best Christmas deliverer!" -Hunter Thornton
• "Also, please bring Ms. Robertson some pretty new clothes because she is pretty!" -Rosan Khamis (she's in Ms. Robertson's 1st grade class)
• "I will leave you some water and gummies." -Michael Collins
• "P.S. Please bring a PSP (I put it on layaway)." -Gunner Hutson
• "the game Call of Duty 4 (where you can shoot the bad guys) and an American colored (red, white, blue) snowboard." -Henry Brown (mostly I love that this kid thought, yeah, Santa's not American, I better specify.) 
• "My mom would like a "chore-bot" that can do all of her chores.  My dad would like a 3D or 4D TV." -Ryan Hurley (this kid has been paying attention. The 4D thing kills me.)
• "I also need books to read and clothes to wear because I'm growing out of them, and maybe some toys!" -Thomas Meredith

Ahh

• "I wish people would be nicer to everybody and I wish me and Rain would get along . . . " -Whittney
• " . . . news Ippers and for my big sister to be nice for one day to my momma so she can spend Christmas with us." -Karlee Lovell (I wasn't sure where to put this one.  It's so sweet and sad, but I have no idea if this girl wants a new zipper or if Ippers are something)
• "I would like to wish my Papa Hollywood (Dolbow) a Merry Christmas in heaven tell Papa I love and miss him." -Chevy
• "I hope my daddy can have surgery to go back to work." -Jacob Sexton
• "I have tried to be good this year.  I have messed up a little. . . . Also I would like a job for my Daddy." - Jacob Edwards 
• "Please bring Andrew something special.  He has been real sick.  My dog Izzie is a good dog.  She needs a dog to play with." -Jaden Songer
• "My mom is pregnant so can you make sure the baby is nice, clean, and healthy?" -Alexis Lafon
• "Please make sure you bring something for my daddy to make him feel better." -Seth Palmer.
• "Can you bring my cat back?  George ran away and we can't find him." -Riley Roggess
• "Santa if you go to heaven, please give my Dad a present too." -Jaiden Ratcliff

Top 10 Favorites

1. Dear Santa, How are your reindeer?  Tell Rudloph to keep up the good work! Santa, what would you like for Christmas?  I would like a new game for my Xbox 360.  My cousin would like a new gun toy and a horse.  Santa, my mom wants a new statue and my dad wants a new movie, but I'm not sure which one.  I don't know what my sister wants other than a laptop.  If you could, I would also like a new phone, a german shepherd puppy, and a new Wii because ours is broken.  Thank you.  Love, Chase Journell 
2. Dear Santa, I know what I want this year.  Here is a list of it.  A toy dirt bike, a DSI, a toy rake, and a toy man.  Thank you, Ryan Broadwell
3. Dear Santa, I hope you are feeling good and not sick.  I've been a good girl you can bring me a gift if you want to don't forget my mommy, daddy, and sisters.  They have been good too.  I love you Santa! Merry Christmas!  Carolyn Cook
4. Dear Santa, I have been good this year.  I want a Tablet or a DS Charger, a trampoline, a private Freeze Cone Shop that only the people I like can come to the shop.  I would like a new TV. in my room.  Ask your elves if they can make zebra pain and peace sign stickers.  Merry Christmas! From, Emma Tawney
5. Dear Santa, I am a good girl and I want a medium drum set with a microphone.  I want a GoGo and a Real puppy with spots on it. I want a Paper Jamz Mic and effects amp too.  Plus some Monster High dolls with a bed that goes with it and a Drill and Fill playdough set.  I want a game called Operation. I need batteries and a charger for my camera.  Then I want an Ipod that cost 40.00 only.  Some new high heel boots and new puzzles.  I want some stuff for my sisters too, like and Ipod too.  We all want the Barbie hair stripes.  I want a Bratz van and movie with 3-d glasses.  Thank you very much if you get me this stuff then you are a good person.  We will leave you cookies and milk.  Love, Aleyah Payne
6. Dear Santa, I would like to have breakfast.  I will bring you a lot of cookies two different kinds.  You will be so so happy and do not forget to get my gifts and I will give you a big hug. MyKenzie
7. Dear Santa,  I love Santa. I wod have a truck.  I wod like a robot.  I love Santa.  Santa is the best.  Santa gives me toys.  I bin good.  I wod like a psp.  I wod like a Xbox.  I wod like a Play Station   Matthew
8. Dear Santa, Hi Santa my name is Skyler Edwards.  What I want for Christmas is all the thing's I have wishting for, DSI, pokemon.  Santa I really want a brother to play because I have two mean sister's and blay blad dog.  DSI games, mp3 player.  I wish for all the people who are sick to get better and the people who are hungry to get food and the homeless to get shelter.  Santa plase help other people but first before you stop at my house.  P.S. I love you Santa.  Skyler
9. Dear Santa, For Christmas, I want some new video games and a microscope to see tiny things.  I want a pet parrot.  I wish I had a toy Jetpack.  Please bring everything I asked for, please! Jacob Blankenship
10. Dear Santa, I just seriously want to know if I'm on the naughty list?  For Christmas I would like an Air Hog Jet.  Bring Ethan video games and brink Preston LOTS more homework! Also, please bring Mommy the Twilight movie.  Bring daddy Xman PG 13 movie.  And bring both my mommy and daddy love! I will leave you peanut butter cookies and milk.  I love Christmas because I get presents and because it is the Lord's day! Love, Brent McCall