The DS Life is a weekly feature in which we scour the known world for narrative images of Nintendo's handhelds and handheld gamers. If you have a photo and a story to match it with, send both to thedslife at dsfanboy dot com.

As every successful endeavor requires an unexceptionable sequel, we've created just that with this installment of The DS Life! We're revisiting last week's theme of "Dear Santa" notes, promising a production packed with more laughs, more special effects, and most importantly, more letters. We actually can't guarantee those first two points, but we're almost absolutely sure we'll deliver on that third one!

To streamline the gift-wishing process, the kindergarteners at Buckeye Valley North Elementary were provided with crayons and a simple form to illustrate their hearts' desires. What follows are a few of the results from the school's "Dear Santa" project.

The DS Life is a weekly feature in which we scour the known world for narrative images of Nintendo's handhelds and handheld gamers. If you have a photo and a story to match it with, send both to thedslife at dsfanboy dot com.

Watching too much television ruined the surprise and magic of St. Nick for me. Though I'm not sure which exact program it was that unbagged the Christmas cat, it's kind of hard for a pragmatic kid to not figure out the great conspiracy on his or her own, given enough time to think about the inconsistencies. That didn't stop me from writing my wishlist to Santa every year, though, as I was still too young to break the fashionable habit.

But since I knew the letters would always find their way to my mother's hands no matter what North Pole address I scribbled on the envelope, I only asked for trivial things, G.I. Joe figures and NES games, instead of the impossibilities I prayed for every night, the pitiful petitions that served no good to ask out loud -- a girlfriend to hold hands with at school, a father who'd come back home to us after years of estrangement, or a home that wasn't a cramped apartment in dirty, dilapidated downtown Detroit.

So, that was my "Dear Santa" experience. If you need something to lift you up out of the depressive state I've put you in, read on for a much more cheerful (and adorable) letter.