I’ve been feeling like this is it. The last year that Santa will bring the magic, the mystery and the must-be-good-or-else promise to our household. My daughter is six-years-old and I’d think she has at least another year or two of believing. But now I’m not so sure. There have been too many questions swirling about lately, not to mention a recent spark of doubt about another beloved person: Mickey Mouse.  Our first-grader came home from school last week and during a snack stopped gobbling down her food to announce that another student in her class told her that Mickey Mouse wasn’t real. “It’s just a costume, Mom.” I asked her if she thought Mickey Mouse was real.  It took her about a nano-second to respond:  “Yes! I saw him at Disney World.” Well then, that means there is still hope for Mickey…and for Santa.  And sure enough, the weekend after Thanksgiving we kicked off the Christmas season with a visit to see the jolly fella.  Emily told him she loved his Christmas tree, asked about the elves and then whispered to him what she wants for Christmas.  After our good-byes I asked her what she told Santa she’d like for Christmas. “He knows” was all she would say.  I guess seeing is believing… and I think the big bag of candy he gave her helped as well. 😉