Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS — When I was 7 or 8 years old, I could have sworn I heard the sound of reindeer hooves tapping across the roof of my house as I lay awake late at night on Christmas Eve.

Though, I was too afraid to sneak down the stairs to try to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus — for fear that I would wake empty-handed if I was caught — the presents under the tree the next morning proved my suspicions about our nighttime visitors were correct.

I have no doubt that similar near-encounters occur for believers each Christmas, but a pair of kids from Nottingham, England, appear to be among the rare few to have a face-to-face interaction with St. Nick — and have the video evidence to prove it.

Thanks to a conveniently placed doorbell camera, Santa can be seen sneaking past a window of the house a few days before Christmas while the kids wrestle on the couch, seemingly oblivious.

It's only when Santa pauses outside of a glass sliding door to offer a wave that the kids take notice. Disbelief quickly turns into euphoria as the pair bound into the other room to tell their parents, who are likely just as thrilled that the entire exchange was caught on camera.