Children are ready for Santa's arrival

SIKESTON -- Children locally and around the world will await the arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve night -- a tradition that's been going on for thousands of years.

According to the Official NORAD Santa Tracker, Santa's sleigh took its first flight on Dec. 24, 343 A.D.

More recently, NORAD, which stands for North American Aerospace Defense Command, has tracked Santa's flight every Christmas Eve as he delivers presents to boys and girls all over the world.

NORAD has also taken the time to collect some statistics on Santa and his sleigh.

Departing from the North Pole, Santa's sleigh weighs 75,000 gumdrops at takeoff, and it's 75 candy canes long, according to NORAD.

The passenger weight -- which is Santa Claus -- is 260 pounds while the weight of gifts at takeoff is 60,000 tons. At landing, NORAD said the sleigh's weight is 80,000 gumdrops after factoring in the ice and snow accumulation.

And the passenger weight at landing -- after Santa's consumption of cookies and milk throughout the journey -- is 1,260 pounds.

The climbing speed for Santa's sleigh is one 'T' (Twinkle of an eye) while the maximum speed is faster than starlight.

However, preschool and kindergarten students at SEMO Christian Academy in Sikeston have their own ideas about Santa Claus, his reindeer and elves and how the jolly man in a red suit delivers presents to all the good boys and girls on the night before Christmas.

Five-year-old Kambry Adell started with the basics. She said Santa wears a red coat, hat and boots. She saw him once with her "sissy" when he was standing outside of their house.

Santa's job, according to Kambry, is to give presents. She hopes Santa will bring her a Wonder Woman dress and a mermaid blanket.

Kambry said she and her two siblings will leave chocolate chip cookies for Santa.

When asked how Santa gets into homes, Kambry said he walks in her door.

"We don't have a chimney so we leave him a key," she said.

Kambry said Santa uses a sleigh and flies with elves on Christmas Eve.

Three-year-old Harper White agreed.

She said Santa lives at the North Pole, where he makes presents for everyone. She estimated 20 elves ride with him on the sleigh, which is led by Rudolph.

"I saw Santa at the mall," Harper said. "... He was nice."

In addition to seeing Santa, Harper said her Elf on the Shelf, Eve, has kept tabs on her and her brother-dog.

"She had magic Skittles and I ate them," Harper confessed about her Elf.

When asked what happened after she ate the magic Skittles, Harper said nothing happened.

"I've been good now," she said.

Harper said she didn't know what she hoped Santa would leave her under the Christmas tree this year.

However, her schoolmate Cash Davidson, 4, said he knows what he would like from Santa -- a new red and black bicycle.

Cash said he thinks Santa has eight reindeer and feeds them seeds. He said Santa, elves and the reindeer swing on to the roof and climb down the chimney.

But 5-year-old Cameron Britton said he thinks Santa has six reindeer, and he feeds them oats. He could name two of them -- Dasher and Rudolph.

Like Harper, Cameron said 20 elves help Santa on Christmas night.

The way Santa is able to climb up and down the chimneys is by using a ladder, Cameron said.

When asked if Santa says anything, Cameron immediately said; "Ho! Ho! Ho!" as he pumped his hands in the air.

Cameron said he'd like a Nerf gun for Christmas. He thinks he's been a good boy this year, but when it all comes down to it, there's one person who knows his fate, and that's Santa Claus.

Cameron said: "He knows everything!"

To learn more about Santa or to track his route on Christmas Eve, visit noradsanta.org.