Letters to Santa: A look inside kids' holiday wishes

‘I have been a very, very good boy this year. I follow the rules, I always say my bedtime prayers, I always say nice words and I am a very nice friend. When I broke my leg this summer, I was very brave.” - John

John is in “good” company. Letters routed to the North Pole through the Marion Post Office show that Anna has been a very good girl. Brady helped his sisters, did his chores and picked up after his sisters and his toys.

Most remembered the magic words, “please” and “thank you,” too. No doubt they're aiming to land on Santa's nice list, in hopes the jolly old elf will carefully consider their wish lists. Olivia buttered up the big guy before getting down to the nitty-gritty:

“Your (you're) so cool. Can you get to every house in the world? Yes or no. Are you real? Yes or no. Please come to my house this year. I've been very good this year.”

Grant decided to come clean: “I was a nice boy when I wasn't mad.”

The recession hasn't dashed the hopes of area children wishing for such big-ticket items as Wiis, iPods, televisions, cell phones, cameras, Nintendos and walkie-talkies. Some of the lists are long, too, with 20 to 30 coveted items big and small.

Hot Wheels, Barbies, Legos and Nerf guns are recurring themes, and Easy Bake Ovens made the list for both genders.

Clothing, traditionally Christmas kryptonite, is apparently much more appealing when color is the deciding factor.

Katie wants “a lime green beret with purple polka dots. If you can't do purple polka dots, then just a green beret please. Thank you.”

Hawkeye black and gold is hot too, perhaps fueled by visions of Orange Bowl glory dancing in their heads. Brady, however, flies two flags, asking for “an Iowa stocking hat and a UNI baseball hat.”

Plenty of creatures will be stirring, too, from puppies to hamsters, real and robotic, if Natalie gets her wish. But just in case, also on her list is “your toy bag.” So maybe she just wants everything.

One of her requests - a turquoise bike - is followed by an apology: “I'm so sore (sorry) that I left my bike in the mitol (middle) of the driveway.”

Santa's gotta love that.