Santa House

For the last five years, maybe more, we've made a tradition out of visiting the "Santa House" on Valley View Circle in Coralville. We remember when they put up the official "Santa House" sign on Holiday Road pointing down the street toward the house. We've parked the car and reviewed the many ways to say "Merry Christmas" and the fun facts about the decorations (how long it takes to put them up, how much the electricity costs, when the family started the project, etc) each year. We've debated getting out in the cold but then remind ourselves, you really can't see it unless you get out of the car. This house is covered with Santa decorations. There's a working train in the front yard, classic cartoons playing, Mickey Mouse, Santa on the chimney, a nativity. It's amazing. We've taken my parents and Mitch's sister, Michelle to see it. Tonight, the boys asked if we could visit the "Santa House." I said it had to wait until Mitch was home. Our friend, Harrison, was with it and the boys told him all about it.

Max, "Harrison, they have mints you can eat while you are looking. Last year, the man who lives there had to come out and fill the mint container. I love looking at the Santas."

The Santa House is not the "Santa House" this year. My friend Lori drove by tonight - "Due to financial difficulties this year, we were not able to decorate."  How sad. If only we'd all placed a bit more in the donation container or known it was not going to happen this year and we could have made a difference. Many people will be saddened by this. Perhaps most sad, will be the family that could not continue the tradition of sharing their home with so many people.