The holiday spirit crept its way into the Children’s National Hospital NICU on Christmas Eve. Santa and Mrs. Claus made their stops to visit the hospital’s “tiniest patients” — and the kids were dressed in the holiday spirit as well.

The visit continued an 81-year annual tradition, dating to first lady Bess Truman, of presidents’ wives bringing holiday cheer to children who are too ill to be at home on Christmas.

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his sack. His eyes, how they twinkled. His dimples, how merry. His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry. His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,