Santa Hates Procrastinators

I've done it to myself again.  I had the kids write letters to Santa. . . . AFTER I had already bought their Christmas presents.  Dang it!  Will I never learn?

Here is Ben's letter (translation below for those of you who don't read phonetic spelling):

Translation:  "Dear Santa, I would like to compliment you on your suit shiny red.  Did you know I have 2 cats and 5 chickens and 1 dog?  Can I please have a Indiana Jones Legos?  Will you get me a plane that is legos?  How many reindeer do you have?  You have a red suit, but do you have other suits?  Your friend, Ben."

Lia opted for a visual letter.  I knew I was in trouble when she told me she needed to start her letter by drawing lines to divide the pictures of all the things she wanted. 



Translation:  LalaLoopsy Dolls, Ladybug Happy Napper, Pink BB Gun, Princess Castle, Barbie House (and I have no idea what the Christmas-Tree-Looking-Thingy or the Blue-Tower-On-An-Apple-Thingy are).  

Then, last night Ben rushes up to me with a NEW letter in his hand. 

Ben:  "MOM!!  You need to mail this to Santa RIGHT AWAY!!"

Me:  "Ben, it might be too late.  What did you ask for?"

Ben: "I forgot to put it in my last letter, but it's a plane with a camera, that you hook up and can watch on your computer!"

Me:  "Yup, it's WAY too late to get this in the mail to Santa!"

Last year I found myself shopping for a submarine with five guys at the very last minute.  This year I'm thinking of explaining the shortcomings of a federally-run post office and how things often get lost in the mail.