Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus...

A visit from our fairy is the most anticipated aspect of a new school year. The week school starts, all the grandchildren wait with bated breath for a series of rapid rings from the doorbell. When that finally comes, we all rush to the door in a manner that would make us difficult to beat on shows such as The Amazing Race. "Oh, and look at that! The Elison kids are pulling ahead! Yes---yes, I think they've done it, Stan! In a shocking turn of events, we see that food and--what is that?---underwear?--is what will motivate these kids and give them the last bit of power they need to dominate this competition."

The rush to the door is mainly a rush to see if we can catch the culprit-it has been known to happen; tonight, however, we were unsuccessful. Chocolate milk, cereal, socks, and other necessities await us on the front doorstep. Ah. A great tradition.