Christmas cookies, candy cane reindeer, and home-made ornaments are just a few, but we have a tradition in my family that goes back to when I was a very small child and it has helped create wonderful memories of this treasured holiday.

Every year, a few nights before Christmas Eve, we gather aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmas, grandpas, young and old under one roof for a special visit from Santa. It is a night filled with as much anticipation as Christmas Eve when little kids (and some big ones) have their noses pressed to every window in the place trying to catch a glimpse of just one reindeer. Santa is coming to check up on us and see how good we've been.

When I was a small child, I believed with all my heart that the big, jolly guy in the red suit drove his sleigh a million miles just to see my family and me. It wasn't until I was much older that I realized it was my big, jolly Uncle "Bud" donning a Santa suit and playing the part better than any mall Santa ever could.

The tradition carries on to this day. Uncle Bud is older and bigger but every bit as jolly and still rings the bells and dons the suit for a new generation of believers.

Looking back, I know that it was special to me. Now as an adult with children of my own, it has become far more special. I watch the look on my children's faces when he walks through the door with a big bag of toys bellowing his "HO HO HO!" and ringing his bells.

Seeing their little eyes get as big around and sparkly as new silver dollars and never taking them off of Santa, makes a smile I wear not just on my face but in my heart. The look of amazement as they take their turn to sit on his lap and he knows their names, what they want most for Christmas and that they stuck gum in the dog's fur last week is a priceless look.

My kids have been skeptical of the mall Santas, but never of him. This is Santa.

My oldest child is going on 8 and I think this is the last year for him to believe even the tiniest bit. He began to ask a lot of questions last year and while I distracted him from asking too much, I know the reality of it. I can take heart though, my youngest will be 18 months this Christmas and this is just the beginning for him. I have never been asked the question "Is Santa Claus real?"

But when I am, my answer will be "yes, his name is Bud".