What proves that Santa has been?

[ChristmasPresence]

I'm thinking snowy footprints from the fireplace, empty sherry glass and nibbled carrots, mince pie crumbs.... any other good ideas anyone?

We did snowy footprints for my niece when we spent Christmas together, went down a storm -she went to see Santa the following year and told him off for making a mess in the porch last year!!!

we leave some xmas magic by the stockings. just sprinkle a small amount of glitter about.

i used reds/golds/greens at xmas.

and for the tooth fairy, i sprinkle iridescent glitter in with the coin.

This year, I am going to leave some fairy dust as we saw some when we went to see the REAL santa recently. Both of my DC were totally convinced!

He also told my kids he would like some water, cookies and carrots so we shall leave some out for him.

ermm Presents under the tree????

I've always found that a big f-off sack of presents for each child does the trick

I am with the Dragon and the Ice Queen.

We put presents under the tree before Xmas eve. With the exception of one present that Santa brings with him.
Last year he bought them both a bike each. Neither child asked how he got it through the letterbox as thats how they have decided he gets in

Do you think we're missing the magic somehow though??

Obviously we leave cookies and a drink for Santa but, TBH, the SmallDragons never noticed that they've gone in the morning!

my children are quite happy to get up and find a huge pile of presents under the tree - that's magical enough for them

I one sprinkled snowflake glitter on the hearth. SmallDragons didn't notice and I was hoovering the sodding stuff up for months.

F-off sack of presents is ample

one year on the shake and vac you got a santa footprint- cut into paper, which you layed on the floor and sprinkled the shake and vac into.......

grass on floor from reindeers feet.... ,muched carrot on floor that has fallen from rudolphs mouth

or i am so going to miss doing this this year as dd is at her dads on christmas eve

Glad to see you solved that one Cali.

Muddy/snowy footprints(pepper and flour).

He has eaten the mince pie and stuff, never eat it completely though, we always leave crumbs out and mucky finger prints on the plate and cup.

We do the glitter too, around where he came in, you can explain it like floo powder if the kids liked potter.

If you want to go really OTT pull the aerial/scart out of the TV, santa mustve knocked the aerial/astellite out of place, send dp/h outside to 'fix it' and quickly plug it back in.

that is really over the top tt

I know, but xmas only happens once a year.

tt i love it..... how old are you children?

i agree, it is a time you can go ott +++++ and get away with it, no one would know what went on behind peoples closed doors on christmas eve, before we started posting it on mumsnet>>>> i love borrowing other peoples ideas!!!

The empty glass, mince pie crumbs, nibbled carrot and elf dust traces on the presents.

My dd is 7, ds will be 3 just after christmas.

We never come downstairs before them either, I'll say 'do me a favour, pop downstairs and get my phone(or something)' and then she comes up and says 'Muuuuuuuuuuum, mummmmmmmmmmm, he ate the cake!!!'

Then when I go down a bit later I moan and tut about the mess.

Then a bit later I'll do the TV thing, it just keeps the whole 'santa's been' thing going all day.

One year my dad went up on the roof with a pair of skis. I've no idea how he did it, but there were sleigh marks in the snow up there the next morning. It was brilliant. I was about 7 and totally convinced.

Prove that Rudolf is a very messy eater by finely grating a little bit of carrot on the hearth (or wherever you left it).

Tiny Tim - I do the whole tutting and sighing over the messy eating too. Tis truly Oscar winning....