Yes, my kids (ages 5 & 7) still believe, and with all their heart, although last year my eldest was "wowed" that Santa had the same wrapping paper as we did. (Oops.) This year we're changing up the wrapping paper to try to keep the magic alive as long as possible.

Good call Jenny.  Yeah, we caught ourselves with the wrapping paper thing awhile ago. 

What did it for me as a kid?  Finding a tell-tale Target price tag on one of the gifts.  I just didn't buy that Santa shopped at Target.

The best story I have of Christmas time from when Griffin was young was when he was in Kindergarten; his teacher had given them all a small ziploc bag of 'reindeer food' which consisted of oats and some glitter. The story was, if you spread out the food on Christmas Eve, the reindeer would be attracted to the glitter, and then have the oats as a snack while Santa filled stockings. So on Christmas Eve, we stood on the patio and sprinkled the oats in the snow outside. It was a divine moment, because right at that instant, outside near us someone began shaking sleigh bells. Griffin's eyes got HUGE and he whispered 'Santa's HERE!'. He turned and raced inside straight to bed and didn't move an inch until morning.

By the time he was 9 though, he wasn't much of a believer. Still, each year we love tracking Santa on the NORAD website, simply because it's just so much fun. (and at age 15 last year, we still giggled and tracked 'Santa') Late on Christmas Eve when he was 9, we came home from a gathering and decided to look on NORAD to see where Santa was. LO and BEHOLD!!! He was right over Minnesota, according to the website. Griffin turned and instantly headed for the stairs to go to bed.

I called after him 'I thought you didn't believe in Santa!' and his reply to me was 'Well, you can't be too careful!!'

I don't know how he learned or decided that Santa isn't 'real' as in someone who rides all over the world and slides down chimneys, and it doesn't matter that he doesn't believe in that but he still maintains that magic of Christmas, that somehow there is mystery that comes overnight on Christmas Eve and brings smiles to everyone by stuffing a large sock with gifts. It's that 'spirit' that I want him to believe in, that magic that arrives, even if it's in the form of a parent making a wish come true. 

We do stockings full of little gifts, treats mostly or small items that are useful. Mike loves real licorice, Griffin loves honey roasted peanuts, I love macadamia nuts. We do things like that, little things, that mean a lot and are fun to find.

Sadly, my 5 year old knows the truth...and I'm guessing her brother isn't too far behind...

She's even called me out on the tooth fairy already and she hasn't even lost a tooth yet! (Dang daycare kids!) 

She knows enough not to spoil it for other kids...and knows that if she believes, she receives...I love to do stockings for everyone - even the adults who stay with us at Christmastime! Boxes of beer bread, a favorite candy...just little stuff - I hope my kids always believe in the magic that is Christmas, even if there ARE lots of different Santas...

Kate, That is such a great story!  I love everything Santa, and I am a strong believer in keeping the magic alive.  There is such innocence in kids...they should enjoy it as long as possible...before the reality of LIFE sets in!

My kids still believe...9,7,5 and 1.  I thought my nine year old was getting suspicious, but when I was explaining to him about the places our Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes go (our favorite charity), and that those children have never received a gift in their lives, he got upset and replied, "Doesn't Santa go there???" 

Sweet.  Sniff sniff!

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Kate said ...
The best story I have of Christmas time from when Griffin was young was when he was in Kindergarten; his teacher had given them all a small ziploc bag of 'reindeer food' which consisted of oats and some glitter. The story was, if you spread out the food on Christmas Eve, the reindeer would be attracted to the glitter, and then have the oats as a snack while Santa filled stockings. So on Christmas Eve, we stood on the patio and sprinkled the oats in the snow outside. It was a divine moment, because right at that instant, outside near us someone began shaking sleigh bells. Griffin's eyes got HUGE and he whispered 'Santa's HERE!'. He turned and raced inside straight to bed and didn't move an inch until morning.

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We are just introducing the concept of Santa to my daughter. I hope that she continues to believe until she is at least 10-years old.  

There is something magical about a child's innocence. I hope that other people like the  Gosslin's kids don't ruin it for her.

Have the Gosselin's been talking about Santa (I don't follow them at all, so I am clueless on this one).

But I agree, I love the innocence and believing in something "good."

My oldest, who is now eight discovered a four-wheeler We had hid at his grandparents house.  On Christmas morning he argued with us that Santa had brought it, he was three.  The magic didn't last long with him.  We have threatened him to not spoil it for his little brother who still believes at the ripe old age of five. 

Just receintly my youngest and I where on a Wal-mart run when he asked me if he could get a toy, here is our conversation:

Me- Brach if you keep getting toys then Santa won't have anything to bring you for Christmas.

Brach-  I am just trying to lighten his load.

Either he trully believes or he is a very good manipulator.  I am praying that he believes!!!!

I'm still wondering how my 9 and 11yr old boys still believe.  I knew in 2nd grade!

My oldest is 7 and the rest are 5, 3 and 18 months. So yes mine still do.  We do everything to keep them believing from The Elf on the Shelf, to watching the Polar Express a million times.  We just also did the Santa PNP personal north pole message and they loved it.  I will be sad when the day comes when they stop believing