Saturday was St. Nicholas Day, a favorite holiday in our home. Though popular in Waldorf circles, my introduction to it came as a little girl in Sunday school, and I have held it very dearly ever since then.

Each year, St. Nicholas visits our home -- and those of many others throughout the world! -- to fill our children's shoes with surprises. Chocolate coins, nuts, and oranges are all traditional treats. We always get chocolate coins. ;) St Nicholas also leaves my children small gifts -- usually books.

This year was a delight because it was James's first year to "get" it (oh, imagine the fun that Christmas will be this year!). The day before St. Nicholas's visit, Elisabeth was explaining the custom of leaving shoes out for St. Nicholas to fill, and when she said "and he puts chocolate in them," James exclaimed, "Oh! That's 'normous. That's humongous!"

Edited to add: The wooden St. Nicholas figure is made by Ostheimer.

uncommon grace