So what are the favorite toys that Santa will bring this year to good boys and girls? April Drew went to Woodlawn to find out.

By April Drew

Seven-year-old Pamela Carey is expecting “the biggest doll house” she has ever had from Santa Claus this Christmas.

“I stay up really late and look out the window with my brother to try and see Santa, but then do you know what happens? I fall asleep,” said Pamela with a twinkle in her eye. She will strive once again this Christmas Eve to spot the bearded man and his reindeers flying through the starry sky.

Finn James Donohue, 6, was on his way to get ice cream with his grandmother, Mary O’Brien, when he told the Irish Voice that he is very excited about Santa Claus coming to Woodlawn.

“I want a batman toy from Santa,” said Finn, who hesitated, thought for a minute and continued with, “I want him to bring something for my sisters too.”

He goes on to explain that his sisters will perhaps get dolls from Santa Claus. He plans to buy his older sister a house to accompany her doll and a teddy bear for his younger one. “My favorite present of all was a red toy knight!” gleamed, the blonde haired, fair skinned Finn.

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other,” writes poet Burton Hillis. This sentiment truly relates to Eileen and Eugene Collum, proud parents of five children, aging from two to 10, who welcomed the Irish Voice into their home.

Meadhbh, 5, said that Santa is going to have a “music thing, like a piano,” waiting for her under her big tree on Christmas morning.

“I want the girl dolls,” said the youngest girl, Brid, referring to a Barbie doll. Meadhbh, after taking time to mull over her decision, said if Santa doesn’t have her “music thing like a keyboard,” she also wants a computer and a baby doll.

Older sister Aine, 9, is quick to remind her, “No Meadhbh, only one thing. Daddy said Santa can only bring one thing.” Meadhbh disagrees and says it’s two items.

As Meadhbh runs off to clarify the situation with Dad, Aine excitedly moves on to explain, “My mom is getting me a Nintendo DS and my dad is getting me a dog, a real dog you know. I will name him Sammy if it’s a boy and Beauty if it’s a girl,” she said, nearly out of breath.

Oldest sibling, Micheal, 10, a little less excited about Santa but really looking forward to his gifts, explains that he wants a laptop and a baseball shooter. Micheal clarifies that a baseball shooter is a “thing that shoots out baseballs in the garden and I hit them.”

His favorite thing about Christmas is the presents and his Christmas dinner. “My mom makes the best Christmas dinner and I love it,” he said.

Aine, who is sitting beside Michael, waiting for her opportunity to speak again, bursts out, “My favorite present in the whole world, I have it you know, is when I was seven, or was that six, I got a teddy bear and it was bigger than me. Floppy is his name,” she recalled.

Brid, 4, wishes that Santa will bring her a real baby girl, and she wants to name her Eva. “I want to change her diapers and feed her food,” she said.

Aine reminds Brid that Santa can’t bring a real baby in his bag because it would be too cold in the sky. Brid, disappointed, shrugs her shoulders and said, “I’ll ask mommy” and runs off.

Baby Seamus, 2, didn’t have much to say on the matter, but his three excited sisters expressed his fond interest in trains and cars. “He loves Thomas the Train,” said Meadhbh.

“It’s Thomas the Tank you know Meadhbh,” corrected Aine. But little Seamus was content playing games with his sisters, and Santa presents were the last thing on his mind.

All the kids cheered for snow for Christmas so they can get a horse and cart to get around Woodlawn.

“We can keep him outside in the garden and then maybe if he can fly he can help Santa Claus,” giggles Meadhbh, as she jumps up and down with excitement.

The O’Connors, father Cathal and children, Steven, 6 Meg, 8, and Laila, 13, were out shopping for Christmas decorations when they spoke to the Irish Voice.

“Every year we make it a family outing to pick out the tree, decorations and lights as a family,” said Cathal.

After much debate, they decided to stick to the traditional colors of Christmas — green and red, said Cathal. “I want a train that will go under the tree and out into the kitchen and be really big, and it must be a Thomas the Tank,” said Steven.

Meg expressed an interest in a Nintendo DS, but said she will be happy with whatever Santa puts under the tree for her.

Teenage sister Laila explained that she thought the presents under the tree were what always made Christmas so magical. Now she believes differently.

“When I have my own kids I want them to understand that it’s the Christmas spirit that is important. It is important to appreciate your family and friends at Christmas and share the happiness that the season gives” said the elegant teenager, who hopes to get a bike and make up for Christmas.

“The children wake up every year at 6 a.m. and they don’t go to sleep with the excitement until midnight on Christmas Eve,” laughs Cathal. “It is worth it so see their faces light up every Christmas morning when they see what Santa left them.”

Cathal teaches the children every year to share their toys, and most importantly never to brag to other children about their gifts.

“Some kids get carried away with presents – ‘mine is better than yours’ kind of thing,” he said.

“I sometimes hate sharing my new toys because maybe my friends might break them but dad tells me I must and that’s okay,” agrees Meg.

“It’s about Jesus’ birthday, it’s my birthday the day after so I blow out my candles for Jesus too. He can’t come to my party because he is a busy man but he is still my friend,” shares Steven, who said that next year he just might buy Jesus a present and post it to him!

Dolls never go out of fashion, at least in the King household.

“Bitty Baby twins,” is the request of the King sisters, Katie, 6 and Sinead, 9.

“She is an American Girl doll,” describes Katie in a sweet tone. “I also want an MP3 player to listen to Hannah Montana.”:

“I’m getting a shell shocker. It has a remote control and it goes around and jumps in the air,” said P.J., who is a twin to Katie. He also wants a PSP (Play Station Portable), which is like a Game Boy but it can take pictures, says P.J.

His favorite part of Christmas is Christmas Eve.

“I’m so excited on the night, I can’t sleep because I’m too nervous. I want to stay up and see Santa,” P.J. enthuses.

“I want a Nintendo DS, Bitty Baby twins and I forget the rest!” said older sister Sinead. “Last year and the year before I got American Girl dolls.”

Although Sinead loves her mom’s cooking she would prefer “to eat junk on Christmas, that would be great,” but her mother quickly reminds her it will be the traditional turkey dinner first.

“I would like a nail set from Santa this year,” said a modest Claire Meaney, who took time out of her Irish dancing class to speak to the Irish Voice. Claire has two brothers who are six and 12.

“Thomas, who is older loves the Play Station,” she said. “My favorite Christmas movie is Polar Express. I will watch it lots of times after I wake up Christmas morning,” she giddily explains.

“Do you know I wake up at three o’clock in the morning but I go back to sleep because Santa might be there,” smiles Claire brightly, as she tugs on her pretty pink skirt.

Two other little boys who don’t get much sleep on Christmas Eve are Michael, 3 and Brien Costello, 8.

“We really love Sponge Bob Square Pants toys and I love the Christmas movie one,” explains Brien. “Can I tell you about this cool robot I got from Santa who gets you anything you want- even from the fridge, but it has to be a light fridge for it to open,” he adds, while at the same time pulling his arms wide apart to visually explain the size of his robot. The Costellos named him Butler.

“The only thing is he was really slow, it took him 10 minutes to come back from the fridge and then I was so thirsty,” said Brien with a look of disappointment on his face. “This year I want more Sponge Bob and a crusty crab game for the play station two,” continues Brien.

Michael agrees with everything his wise older brother is saying while clutching onto an E.T. teddy the same size as him.

Michael keeps repeating the word Diego! “He wants a Diego toy, he loves him,” said Brien.

Angela, mother of the boys, explains that Diego belongs to the Dora the Explorer family, the little 7-year-old Latina animated character who goes on a quest to help someone in trouble.

The boys bounce back into the room full of energy and sneaking a few sweets into their mouth before dinner. They want to eat pizza for their Christmas dinner. “Pizza, pizza, pizza!” chants Michael, oblivious to the traditional Christmas foods.

Brien explains that he doesn’t have enough money this year to buy his friends gifts but he said, “When I’m bigger I’ll be a babysitter and then when I get money I’ll buy all my friends presents.”