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Letters from Santa: Santa Sessions near Pittsburgh & Fox Chapel

By: Always Remember Photography

Week 5- My Christmas Journal

Sept 17, 2026

The Magic Is in the Details

Who knew one little "e" could create so much extra work? After preparing not one, but 62 letters from Santa for the children invited to attend this year's Elf Academy, I decided to look over them one last time. That is when I saw it. Somehow, I had spelled November "Novemeber"—not on one letter, but on every single one of them.

 

Open Christmas journal with decorative candles, holly, and a red ribbon on a wooden surface

Week 5 - A letter from Santa

But once again, I am getting ahead of myself.

 I tend to do that.

Before I could begin preparing the letters, I first had to contact every family registered for this year's Santa Experience to confirm their date and time. Many of our families reserve their visits a year in advance, and a great deal can change during that time. I always want to make certain the appointment they selected so many months ago still works for them before I prepare anything with the date printed on it.

Once the confirmations began coming back, I could finally start working on the letters.

Every child receives a special letter from Santa inviting them to attend his Elf Academy. This meant checking names, matching brothers and sisters, adding the correct dates and times, and including a small personal note from Santa whenever I could.

After completing all 62 letters, I gave them one final look.

That is when I discovered the extra "e."

I had spelled November "Novemeber" on every single one.

Would the children have noticed? Probably not. Would most of the parents have noticed? Maybe not. But I noticed, and once I saw it, I could not possibly send them that way.

For a few moments, I stared at that extra "e," hoping it might somehow disappear on its own.

It did not.

So, I started over.

 

Discover the Experience”
letters from Santa for our Magical Santa Sessions near Pittsburgh, Pa

Letters from Santa: Take Two

While I was correcting all 62 letters, Daniel and Julie Jingles began working on the Elf Academy. It felt a little strange to be sitting with piles of paper while they were beginning to bring the actual room to life, but that is how this experience comes together. We are often working on completely different pieces at the same time, trusting that eventually they will all fit together.

The letters will not actually be mailed until approximately two weeks before each child's visit. However, I like to have them completed well ahead of time so there will be no last-minute delays once November arrives.

There is also a very good reason we wait until closer to their appointments to mail them.

The moment a child receives a letter from Santa, their parents begin hearing:

"Is it time to see Santa yet?"

Then they hear it again the next day.

And probably every day after that.

Two weeks of waiting creates excitement. Two months of answering that question might be a little much for even the most patient parent.

There is still so much work to do, and with just a little over seven weeks until Santa's first visit, I have a feeling those weeks are going to pass much faster than I am ready for.

So...

Until next week...

Discover the Experience”
Santa giving a child a sack of gifts in a Christmas workshop with a decorated tree.

A Favorite Moment From our 2024 Santa's Workshop

This Week Behind the Scenes...

This Week Behind the Scenes…

This weekend, beginning to decorate The Elf Academy Classroom for our Magical Santa Sessions  officially began.

✔ All families were contacted to confirm their dates and times.

✔ Upstairs decorating has also begun. (No time for fall here.)

✔ Three trees are now upstairs. Two are finished, and another is waiting.

✔The Christmas Carousel has came out> (Every Child's Favorite.)

We also made one rather big decision. For the first time in ten years, we are adding a day for our Santa Experience that will be after after Thanksgiving. We have always completed our sessions before Thanksgiving, so opening our doors again on Saturday, November 28, will be something completely new for us.

 

Follow the Journey...

Introduction — Building Our Santa Experience: A Christmas Journal
Follow along from the beginning as this year's Santa Experience starts to take shape.

Week 1 — It All Started with One Desk

Week 2 — Every Story Begins with a Blank Page

Week 3 — The Chair That Turned an Empty Room into Santa's Office 

Week 4 - Every Treasure Finds a Home: 

Week 5 - The Magic is in the Details ( You are Here)

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