Wait....These Kids are Graduating High School??

I’ve lived in Whitehall for 22 years now - which means I have seen nearly all of the graduating class of 2021 grow up in one way or another. And man, does that make me feel old.

In 2008 when I worked for the Whitehall Ledger, I interviewed the kindergarteners about Santa and Christmas. Those kindergarteners are now the graduating class of 2021. Here were some of my favorites from those interviews:

Mason Alexander: Q: What’s so special about Rudolph? A: I don’t know...oh, its special cuz his nose is red!

Jamus DuBois: Q: What do you want for Christmas? A: Toy calls, to call in deer. I went with my daddy hunting and we used calls and I shot a buck...it was a tiny buck though (pinches his fingers together to about 2 inches)

Meagan Johnson: Q: What would you like for Christmas? A: A swimming dog! He’s brown with blue goggles!

Anna Nelson: Q: How big are the elves who help Santa? A: Little. They weigh 100.

Kenzie Hugulet: Q: Santa eats a lot, how much do you think he weighs? A: 17.

Geoffrey Porter: Q: What do you want for Christmas this year? A: I want to eat snow.

Dalaney Scafani: Q: Is Santa skinny or big? A: No.

I think he weighs about 7.

Jayden Andrews: Q: Do you put up a tree at your house? A: Yeah. My mom, she’ll get a tall one, like 10 inches, for the living room.

Flint Smith: Q: How far away is the North Pole? A: I don’t know...it’s like 100.

Ryan Alley: Q: You said you want an iPod for Christmas? A: A red one. I listen to all kinds of musics.

Kaleigh Bubnich: Q: How does Santa get the presents inside? A: In the chimney, but if they don’t have a chimney some people just leave the front door open so he can come in. My mom and dad told me that.

Hayden Hoagland: Q: Is it hot in the North Pole A: (rolls his eyes and laughs) No! It’s cold, like 10,000 degrees.

Dallen Hoover: Q: Who is the most famous reindeer of all? A: Rudolph. And I know the song but I don’t wanna do it.

Kendra Klapan: Q: What does Santa look like? A: He’s fat. I don’t know how much fat.

Marta Nelson: Q: How old do you think Santa is? A: (holds up six fingers)

Macee Patritti: Q: When you decorate for Christmas, do you put up a tree? A: I don’t know! (She answered the next four questions the same way!)

Dawson Powers: Q: What do you want for Christmas? A: A big teddy bear, and white, cause I don’t have a white teddy bear.

Logan Senst: Q: Have you ever seen a reindeer? A: No...but I see deers in my dad’s shop.

Trentin Walker: Q: How far away is the North Pole from Montana? A: I don’t know...but it’s really cold there!

BreeAnne Lanes: Q: What do you want for Christmas this year? A: A Hannah Montana microphone because she’s stylish. Very stylish!

Colin Janik: Q: Do you know who helps Santa make the presents? A: Elves. They’re green.

Hallee Kelley: Q: How much do you think Santa weighs? A: Six pounds.

Gage McMillan: Is Santa a big guy? A: No...he’s skinny.

Riverz Jensen: Q: Does Santa have a favorite kind of cookie? A: Chocolate chip!

Gryphon Lombardi: Q: How does Santa Claus get in your house? A: He opens the door and he comes in and he doesn’t even knock. He’s kinda like a robber!