More Children (12-under)
List to Santa
By JADYN YOUNG, age 8
Brainerd
Once there was a little girl who wanted everything for Christmas.
She wrote her letter to Santa and she checked it twice to make sure everything she wanted was on there. The list was very long. The little girl watched her calendar every day counting the days until Santa would come. She made sure that she was being very good because her mommy told her that Santa would be watching.
Finally, Christmas morning came and the little girl jumped out of bed along with the rest of her family. They all sat around the tree opening their gifts. When all the presents were opened the little girl looked around and started to cry. She cried the whole day long. She didn't cat breakfast, lunch or dinner that day. The little girl just cried and cried.
When her mom asked her why she was crying she said,"Because I didn't get everything that I wanted!" Her mom told her that Santa has many children to give gifts to and that he could never be able to give every child all the things they want. Her mom also told her to think of the children and families who are not always as fortunate as her family.
The next day she woke up with a smile on her face and she played with her toys the whole day long. She also forgot about the things she didn't get.
Her mom asked her how she liked the things she got for Christmas and the little girl said that she loved them and would never put any of them on a garage sale. She sat there playing with her toys and remembered how she wanted everything in the world and how she acted that Christmas day. The little girl said to herself and her new dolly," I love Christmas, even if I didn't get everything I wanted."
Santa Burnt the Cookies
by CASSIE SAXUM, 11
Baxter
Santa was looking all over the house for Mrs. Claus. He had a craving for sugar cookies. All of a sudden Santa heard antlers scratching at the door. Cautiously, he opened the door and saw the reindeer standing there with Mrs. Claus.
Mrs. Claus was furious at Santa for locking her out. Mr. Claus knew this was not the time to ask her to make him some cookies.
So Santa began to take all the ingredients he needed out of the pantry. A little mouse named Courtney came out of the pantry and offered Santa a little cookbook. She went back into her mouse house to look for her little brown cookbook. She came out carrying a little cookbook entitled "Yum, Yum, Yum Chocolate cookies." Santa said, "Where did you buy this book?" Courtney replied, " I found it somewhere."
As he started to make the cookies he decided he needed some taste testers. So, he found Blinken and Dobb, two of his elves. He got out 2 eggs and 3 scoops of sugar and started mixing. It looked like a sticky snowstorm. After Santa had the batter done, he called his wife for help in finding the cookie sheets. She came into the kitchen and helped him find the cookie sheets. They put the batter on the cookie sheet and put it into the oven. He baked the cookies at 500 degrees fahrenheit.
As he was cleaning up his mess, he noticed something burning! The oven was on fire! He grabbed the first thing he saw and started to slap at the flames. The flames were put out but he ruined Courtney's cookbook!
Sadly, he looked at the little burnt cookbook. Its pages were burnt to a crisp. Courtney came out of her mouse house and said, "Oh, what happened in here?" Blinken and Dobb told her of the disaster that struck the kitchen. She didn't care about the cookbook. She was worried about Santa. The two elves told her he was okay and the three of them decided to taste the cookies. Courtney loved the cookies with the dark edges and told Santa they were great.
Santa thought he had failed at cookie baking but Courtney told him it didn't matter that his cookies weren't perfect. What matter was that he had done it all by himself. That gave Santa the confidence to become the top chef at the Northpole and put Mrs. Claus out of a job...until Courtney hired her to work in the toyshop.
The Christmas Star
by TORI SAXUM, age 9
Baxter
It was Christmas morning and I raced downstairs to rip open my presents. But I remembered I have to wait till Mom and Dad were up. But they didn't say I couldn't shake the boxes ,did they? So I continued my way downstairs and saw the forest of toys. It was beautiful. I walked to the tree and kneeled by the presents. I looked around for ones that had my name on it. Here's two, I took the boxes out of the mass of presents. I shook the first one. Sounded like a box of crayons and some sort of book. I picked up the second one it said, from Santa I started to jiggle the box. "Ow! Hey, stop that!" something said. I had to see what was in this box, even if it was a some odd talking toy. I tore open the box, and I couldn't believe my eyes. There in the box was a real live star. Not a celebrity star but a five pointed star. I grabbed it out of the box.
"Hey, would ya stop poking me and stuff?!" It said. "Wait just one minute." I said. It was a real star, the first thing that came to my mind was it was a mistake, Santa can't give me a star. "Are you a real star'?" I asked it. "Of course I am and if your wondering how old I am and how I got here? I'll tell you.
While Santa was flying through the air, he dropped a present. He swerved his sleigh around and tried to grab it. But he missed and grabbed me instead, without looking he stuffed me in that terrible box." It said. "And I am 2 stars old." I heard footsteps stomping down the stairs. Mom and Dad! I had to disguise it. I quickly grabbed a coat and a baseball cap and put it on the star.
There now it looked liked a boy. My mom came downstairs and looked puzzled, the same with Dad. "Who is this boy?" Dad asked. "Oh him, well he's a new boy on the block, and he came over to celebrate Christmas with us." I answered. "Well okay." Mom said. "Thanks." I said. "Well how about some breakfast?" Dad asked. After our Christmas vacation I realized that I wanted to keep this star forever, but I couldn't. So I sent Santa a letter saying I'd like him to come to my house on Friday, January 2. He sent me back a letter saying he was sorry and would be there.
On that Friday he came at 12:00 am. Again Santa told me he was sorry about the mistake and would take the star back in his rightful place. As soon as the star got into Santa's sleigh my heart sunk to my toes, I'd grown fond of him and didn't want to see him go.
So before he left I asked him if every Christmas he would do something special. So every Christmas if you look in the sky at 12:00 am you will see a shooting star and know it's my Christmas star.
A Relative Christmas
By LYNNEA IVERSON,
age 9
Staples
So there I was on the couch waiting for my cousins to arrive at my house on Christmas eve. At last they arrived! They came in the house with their bags and presents. Then I hugged my cousin. Her long brown hair smelled so good. It smelled like fresh peaches just picked by the tree!
They placed the presents under the tree then my cousin, sisters, and I went upstairs to play. There were too many games to play. Finally we chose to play the Grinch game. Everyone looked like they were having fun. My sister, Kirstin, won.
We had tons of other things to do. My cousin and I had ideas. I wanted to play outside. My cousin wanted to play Life. So my cousin and I played Rock, Paper, Scissors. I got paper; my cousin Natasha got scissors. So we played Life.
This time I won so we went outside. Natasha's dad came out with us. We got a sled and started to ride in it. Natasha's dad pulled us. Five minutes later he collapsed. He was panting like a dog who was just running after a jack rabbit. We all started to laugh because it was so funny to watch him on the ground.
Then we started to have a snowball fight. I was about to throw a snowball at Natasha when our moms came out.
We waited for them to pass and sit on the bench Then we started to throw snowballs again. Thud! I hit Natasha. Thud! She got me back.
Next we went to the backyard to make snowmen. Becky, my sister, judged. My other sister Jenna had the best snowman.
We went to the big hill by our house and went down. Two times I fell off my sled but I just started to laugh. The snow on my face was cold and fluffy. It looked like a white fluffy pillow too.
We went inside to have some hot cocoa. "It's time for supper," my grandma said. I could tell because I could smell the mashed potatoes and gravy, the fresh cooked bread, and the sweet smell of pumpkin pie.
After supper we finally went to bed. We prayed, then we started to talk about what to do tomorrow.
The next day we opened our stockings and presents. Then we all went to the table to have some breakfast. Ooo! It was pancakes with my grandma's sweet homemade maple syrup from her house. I enjoyed that my cousin, grandparents, aunts and uncles came. That was the best gift of all!
A Christmas Story
By AARON CARTER, 9
Staples
Christmas is the time of year when your whole family gets together to celebrate Christmas. Usually the first thing we do to celebrate is on Christmas eve when we eat crab legs. It's a family tradition.
I am so sorry about what happened last year. I broke the tradition from eating too much butter with my crab legs. Before we go to bed, we all shake our presents (unless the person who gave it to us says it's fragile).
On Christmas day I get up really early real quietly and check my Christmas stocking. I play with some of the things until my parents and relatives get up. Let me tell you who comes: My grandma, my grandpa, my cousins, my aunts, my uncles, and my mom's brother Perry. Most of them have brown hair. They come on Christmas eve.
Our Christmas tree has too many ornaments to fit on it and it has so many lights that it looks like a star. Our house always smells like pine needles!
My family's house always sounds like music because we have music on at Christmas time!
Thank you for letting me tell you about my family's Christmas. But now I will experience another and have even more memories!
My Broken Ornament
By JILL BLESSING, 9
Staples
Last year's Christmas wasn't a good one. My brothers, sisters,parents, and I were putting the ornaments on the Christmas tree when my special ornament from my grandma fell and broke. It shattered all over the floor. My whole family was looking at me in shock.
I ran into my room, laid on my bed, and cried. I felt sad and upset. Then my big sister Jessica came into my room in and said," Jill, how did your ornament break?"
I said, "It fell off the tree and onto the floor."
She said, "Oh, I'll buy you a new ornament."
When I went back to the living room, it smelled like pine, fresh
baked cookies and holly. My mom said, "Are you going to help put the rest of the ornaments on the tree?"
I said, "Yes, I'll help put the rest of the ornaments on the tree."
Then we all went for a ride. When we got back it was quiet and peaceful. After our ride I felt happy.
My Christmas Memory
By KELSEY RICE, age 10
Staples
My eyes open and see my mother. But I see a sad face on her. She was bringing me to an airplane. I don't remember her at all, but I do remember the feeling inside, and I'll never forget it! It was December 14, 1994 when I arrived in America. A man gave me to these people and they kept on smiling at me. We got in a big vehicle.
When the vehicle stopped, we went into a house. There were even more smiling faces. Everybody wanted to hold me. I didn't cry much. I ate almost everything that was set in front of me.
My mom said I was the best Christmas present ever! At Christmas it was time for me to meet everybody. The moment my mom put me by my cousin, Emily, she started crying. Then I did. Christmas eventually ended. I'm now ten years old and I still think about my birth mother.
The Worst Christmas
By ISAAC NORTHQUEST, age 10
Staples
Two years ago we were going to my aunts and uncles for Christmas. In the van my sisters and I were fighting over who picked the next movie.
Later the van broke down so we had to call a mechanic. Finally after he left we were on our way. Our dog was car sick so we had to stop and clean it up. But we had to stop for lunch. By the time we got to my aunts it was 7:00 p.m. We had supper and went to bed.
On Christmas eve we each opened a present. I got a remote control airplane from my cousin. After breakfast we played some more air hockey. After that we went to the movie "Finding Nemo".
When we got back, we went to bed. When I got up we had waffles for breakfast. Then we opened our presents. The worst part about that Christmas was I got every single present that I got the year before, and our dog Sparky died.
Being with a Family on Christmas
By BETSY JASMER, 10
Staples
Once there was a girl named Amy. She was ten. One year on Christmas, Amy got sent to a foster home. That year Amy barely got any presents. All the other kids got some toys. Amy just got there Christmas day. All the kids opened their presents Christmas Eve.
Three days after Christmas, two parents were looking for a daughter. They didn't have any kids and wanted a girl. They picked Amy.
When they got home, they had Christmas presents that they were going to give to their niece. They wanted a girl so they went to the foster home to try to find a girl about 9 or 10 years old.
When they got back to their house, Amy was feeling safe. The parents were feeling happy because they had a daughter. "I'm happy we have a daughter," said the mom.
"Me too," said the dad.
Amy's new mom and dad showed Amy her new room. Amy liked her new room because it was full of toys, a new bed, new clothes, and new shoes. Amy said "thank you, Mom and Dad, for getting me all this stuff." "Your welcome honey," said her mom and dad.
The Best Christmas Ever!
By JASON CLAYTON, 9
Staples
Two years ago on Christmas day at 8:00 a.m., I woke up. I had forgotten it was Christmas day. I was surprised to see my stocking on my bed so... I went upstairs. When I saw the Christmas tree, I remembered it was Christmas day.
I ran up to the 4th floor to my mom and dad's room. I woke them up. Then right when they woke up, Michael came in. We had so much fun opening presents!
Later, we went outside to make snowballs, snow angels, go sledding, etc., etc., etc. When we came in, we had some hot cocoa.
It was the best Christmas ever!
The Lost Puppy
By TAYLER KLIMEK, 9
Staples
The year was 2002 on Sunday morning. My sister, Paige, and I were talking about getting a dog because we didn't have very many friends. When we passed the door, we saw this little lost orange puppy sitting on the steps. It looked like a fox so we named the puppy Foxy.
Foxy and I were taking a walk with each other. All of a sudden, she whimpered and went bazaar! She started to roll around in the snow and bit my left-hand mitten. I ran inside as Foxy was tearing up the mitten. When I looked at my hand, there was a little mark that was bleeding. My mom put a bandage on it.
She told me to help with the laundry so I did. I took a shirt and started folding it while I felt pain from my hurt hand. I looked out the window and saw Foxy cocking her head left to right like she didn't understand what she just did. She looked so cute.
I didn't dare go outside for the next couple weeks because I was afraid of Foxy. But one day when I got off the bus on Thursday, Foxy wasn't home. My dad went to find Foxy. When my dad came home, my sisters and I ran to dad. I said, "did you find her?"
My dad said, "Yes, I found her." But when I saw his frown, I knew something bad happened. My dad sadly said, "Foxy is dead. I found her in the woods in a coyote trap caught by the neck." We all burst out crying like never ever before.
Then it all came to me. God gave us that dog so we could have a friend to play with AND a Christmas present. That was the saddest day.
The Christmas in Texas
By TERA WEYER, 9
Staples
Two years ago my family and I drove to Texas to see my grandma and grandpa at Christmas time. When we were there we drove to the border and went into Mexico. All around us we saw children and adults begging for money. A child about 8 years old was playing an accordion and singing to earn money.
On the streets there were a lot of people selling things. My dad bought my mom some jewelry. I bought for myself a sombrero and a head wreath made of flowers and ribbons. I could have had my name written on a piece of rice and put in a necklace but the people's pen wouldn't work.
The next day, grandma took us to the Rio Grande River, which separates Texas from Mexico. We got on a hand pulled ferry. Some men pulled us across by pulling on a rope. It is the only hand pulled ferry still used today.
On Christmas Eve we went to a church service. They told the story of Jesus' birth. Joseph led a live donkey with Mary sitting on it into the church to help tell the story.
When I woke up on Christmas day I looked under my grandma's tree and I got a new CD player with a car kit.
We also went to an aloe vera farm. We saw how to cut aloe leaves off the plant and how they slice off the peeling. Aloe vera is used for medicines, lotions, deodorant, and to heal wounds. Some people eat raw aloe vera to stay healthy, and others drink it. My mom tried it and said it had no taste.
I will always remember this Christmas because I came home with a lot of memories.
The Real Christmas
By NICK JOHNSON, 10
Staples
Christmas is about Jesus and not toys. Christmas is about girls and boys.
Christmas is about family and fun. The food on Christmas is really good with turkey or ham on a bun.
People don't care what you get. Outside they want to stay dry not get wet.
The real reason for Christmas is a Christmas tree, going to church, being with your family. And not about trying to stay up all night until SANTA comes.
My Cat and the
Christmas Tree
By BRANDON STERRIKER, age 10
Staples
On Christmas day after we came home from my grandmas house, I told my mom that I was going to scare my cat Boots. When I saw him, he was turned so that he couldn't see me. I ran up behind him.
When he heard me coming, he started running towards the Christmas tree. He jumped up on the Christmas tree and guess what happened? If you guessed the Christmas tree tipped over you were right. The Christmas tree tipped over and there was glass every where. Boots got glass stuck in his feet. I felt bad for him.
We had to take him to the vet. Boots didn't' like the vet especially when he had to get the glass out of his feet.
When we got home I carried him to my room to rest. Then my mom, dad, and I cleaned up the living room. It took a long time to clean it up. It was bed time when we got done cleaning it up.
I got ready for bed and when I got in my room, I couldn't find Boots. So I turned the lights out and I got in bed, and I felt something furry under the blanket.
When I looked under the blankets, and I saw Boots so I moved him up by me. He slept with me until he could walk.
Shaving Cream
By TIFFANY WILLMAN, age 9
Staples
On Christmas Eve morning, my uncle put shaving cream on 13 year old Maria's hand when she was sleeping. My uncle tickled her nose with a small stuffed dog. When she woke up, she had shaving cream all over her. She chased my uncle all over the house trying to wipe shaving cream on him.
When we were opening a present, they took a picture of us with our pajamas on and Maria still had shaving cream on her.
I felt bad for Maria because she got shaving cream all over her. Maria felt mad and surprised but it still didn't spoil Marias Christmas.
The True Meaning of Christmas
By MICHAEL CLAYTON, age 9
Staples
Even though some people think that the true meaning of Christmas is all about getting as many presents as possible, some people think differently. For all of you people out there who don't know the true meaning of Christmas, Christmas is really about celebrating Jesus Christ's birth and being together with family.
Now all you people reading this story know that the true meaning of Christmas is really about being together with family and the birth of Jesus Christ the Lord. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!
Tipping the Christmas Tree
By SHANE SUESS, age 9
Staples
Before Christmas, I was chasing my cat Missy. She climbed up our Christmas tree. Mom got a hold of here before she tipped our Christmas tree. Mom threw Missy outside. Missy slipped through the door. And she climbed up the Christmas tree again this time she tipped the Christmas tree.
Mom, dad and I were real mad. It did not sound real loud but Missy busted half of our Christmas tree and half of our Christmas bulbs. I had to pick up all the broken bulbs and the other half of the tree.
I could have been playing playstation. I was mad. I picked up half of the broken Christmas bulbs. Then I took a nap. After I took a nap I finished picking up the broken bulbs. I got 15.00 dollars.
l'm Happy It's Here
By MIKE HOEMBERG, age 10
Staples
When I go outside at Christmas eve I think of Santa Claus and his reindeer with rudolph and his bright glowing nose. But Christmas is mostly about love and your family being together to eat too. Now just think of all the presents you will get from Santa or family members too.
The reason why I love Christmas is because you get to open up gifts. I just love the smell of the Christmas tree too. It makes me think of the presents under the tree and what I am going to get for Christmas eve from a family member or Santa.
Christmas is my favorite time of year because you get to bake cookies and decorate them with my mom and dad. Sometimes we go out for breakfast in the morning at Christmas. My favorite time is when we spend time with our family.
Snowboarding Time!
By CYRIS EAGLE TAIL, age 9
Staples
On Christmas Eve, my brother Jonny, my cousin Jeff, and I went snowboarding with some friends. We built a ramp and we went down a hill. We hit off it and got some air. I went down a hill with a snowboard and slipped on ice.
Then I went down on a sled. It spun out on me and I fell off. My cousin said, "Are you okay?"
I said, "Yah, I'm fine."
My cousin said, "It's a hard wreck for a ten year old, you know, Benny."
I said, "Not really."
Then my cousin Jeff went down the biggest hill and fell. He tumbled down the hill, got up, and said, "I'm all right."
My brother said, "Try going down this hill."
My cousin said, "Ok."
When I was there, I saw a hill that was kinda long and kinda big so I went down it and said, "That was awesome!"
My friend said, "That looks cool." So he and the rest of the people came and went down it. Then we went home and drank hot cocoa.
The next day, I woke up, went to the living room, and got dressed in snow pants. I went outside and went snowboarding again.
Later that day, I went downstairs and opened up one wrapped box. It was a skateboard!
The Hockey Disaster
By MASON FREEMAN, 9
Staples
One year on Christmas Eve, my family and friends went to the hockey rink to play hockey. The team names are the Tucks and the Tigers. The Tucks' captain was me. I picked Zach, Guthrie, Tanner, Andrew Murray, and my brother.
The Tigers' captain was Bill. He picked Andrew, Chuck, Mike, my dad, and Ron.
The game was tied 10 to 10. I was going for a goal and smack! I ran into the goal and the goalie. I felt like I had just fell off the Empire State Building.
I was rushed to the hospital. When I woke up, it smelled like ginger bread. I felt my head. I had ten stitches in my head.
There was a tree with presents under it. It was snowing and I spent my Christmas in the hospital.
Christmas
By KENDRA WENTWORTH, age 9
Staples
It was Christmas and all my relatives were coming. I couldn't
wait till it was eating time. My mom bakes delicious food. My mom, Trevor, Travis, dad and my relatives were sitting around talking. They were asking, "What's been going on lately?" "How's everything at work?"
Then Trevor and Travis decided to come outside. Meanwhile Trevor, Travis, and I were outside in the snow building forts for our snowball fight that we were going to have. I asked Trevor and Travis if they were ready. They said "no". Trevor's fort was really high, so I decided to build mine high too.
In the house, it grew quiet but it smelled good. Mom was baking mashed potatoes, turkey with gravy, coleslaw and cookies. Outside I could smell the food. It smelled just like cookies. Then my mom called and said, "How about you guys come inside?" We walked inside. I could feel the cold snow dripping from my glove down my sleeve. Mom said,
"Why don't you have tea and cookies?" I held the cookie in my hands.
It was really hot. Mom said "sorry, you might want them to cool."
We went into the living room and it was loud because everybody was talking too much. Trevor, Travis and I visited for a little while. Then mom said "It's time to open presents." We opened presents from Grandma first. Then from our Aunt and Uncle, Great grandma and grandpa's was next. We then opened from mom and dad. Last from
Santa. I was surprised, I got everything that I wanted. I was glad. Then we ate, which everybody loved my mom's cooking. We all watched a new movie we got, and it was funny. It was so funny that even the grownups laughed. We thanked everybody for the gifts and everybody left. This was the best Christmas ever!
Santa Claus
By A.J. SMITH, age 9
Staples
One Christmas Eve, I was setting out milk and cookies for Santa. I was just about to go downstairs, when I heard a noise in the chimney. Then I heard a ho ho ho and reindeer clopping on the roof. So as quick as a cheetah, I hid by the stairs. To my surprise, Santa was standing right in front of our Christmas tree puffing all kinds of presents right there. I wanted to go tell someone but if I made any noise, Santa would know I was there.
But right when I looked back at the Christmas tree, he was gone! I turned around and Santa was right there! He said, "Why are you up?" I told Santa I was sorry and asked him if I still got my gifts.
He said, "Well, I guess it's all right." Then he pointed to a small box in the corner. "Look," he said "That is for you. Go open it."
I went over to the small box and opened it. Inside was a necklace, bracelet, and a pair of earrings with Santa on them. Then I said to him,
"Thank you very much." I gave him a hug and said, "Merry Christmas." He said the same thing back to me.
Then we told each other, "See you next year." He left with a wave of his mitten and a clop of a reindeer, and left for the year.
I yelled back, "Thank you." Then I thought for a while and realized the true meaning of Christmas. It is giving gifts not getting them.
Then the most awesome thing happened. I found out that I could contact Santa because I found a button on the earring and pressed it.
Suddenly a microphone came out. So I said, "Santa" in to the microphone. Santa said "What?" back. I was just amazed.
I said, "Come back to my house." Santa came back in the house. Then I gave him his present, and that was the milk and cookies.