when my oldest son was about 6 or 7, I dont remember which, he used to go to the golf course I was a greens-keeper at and roll golf balls into the holes on the practice green. This was early in the morning on the weekends when I didnt have much to do and their were no golfers on the course. (TPC Sawgrass)
That Christmas we went to his grandparents house on Christmas Eve for dinner and when we got back home there was a brand new putter sized just for him from Santa. He is 23 now, has given up trying to figure out how it got there and still remembers that night as one of his favorites from his childhood.
His expression when he saw it was remarkable... some kid at school had told him Santa did not exist but right then his faith had been restored and his expression was full of wonder and joy.
I dont know how he found out that there was no Santa but he never seemed to care that adults had mislead him
Currently Sober, I am glad you got to experience the innocence of a child dreaming of Saint Nick