Imagine turning your family loose in a department store at Christmas and telling everyone to fill several shopping carts.

Just spend! Grab items off the shelf! Don't worry about the cost!

Boys purchase the "boy toys" and girls get the "girl toys."

It is a whirlwind of a shopping trip. It can also be difficult to fathom the feeling of such a shopping frenzy.

One SeaTac family can actually tell how it feels, because it is a holiday tradition.

Meet Pam and John Cowin.

They are Santas in disguise and they are on a mission each year about this time. They spend money--lots of it.

With their generosity, they delight children. They wait all year for...this.

"This" is their contribution to the Sleep Country USA Foster Care Program.

Pam, John, and their family-- 17-year-old Jolie, 14-year-old J.J. and 12-year-old twins, Jennie and Jessica enter the store and scatter.

No "necessities" items here. They're going for the fun stuff. Calculators, games, dolls, radio-controlled cars, coloring items and big trucks are a good start. Electronics and remote items are especially popular these days.

At the checkout register, the family usually has three or four shopping carts full of toys.

John's enthusiasm is catchy when he talks about giving to foster care children.

"They don't have parent--they may get the essentials but they don't have all of the fun things," John said.

It is a surprisingly quick trip that is completed in less than an hour.

The bill for such a whooping shopping spree? Approximately $1,200.

Looking back on this year's escapade, Pam laughed, "It takes longer to check out than to shop."

John commented, "We don't really look at money-- the kids can choose what they want."

There have been times the family spent a little more than they planned.

Pam will tell you, "The hard part is keeping track on the calculator when kids are shopping."

The family then loads the goodies into its 15-passenger van.

It is an advantage that the presents do not have to be wrapped, so the family heads directly to Sleep Country USA in Tukwila.

This is the family's third consecutive year of playing Santa for foster care children.

Employee excitement at Sleep Country USA is obvious when the family begins to unload from the van.

Once, an employee shed tears as the family made several trips inside the store.

John laughs as he recalls when they arrived, "it's a 15 passenger van and we've got the thing loaded."

After the giving is done and the family is happily exhausted, everyone makes sure they still have energy to go out to dinner.

Or as John exclaimed, "We make it a whole evening!"

John is an electronic technician who works in Research and Development at Boeing.

He also oversees the coffee and snack areas that are situated on three levels at Boeing. He wears the title, "coffee roaster by hobby" and proceeds from the sales of the coffee and snacks are used for these toy purchases.

Throughout the year, he saves the money in the bank. Boeing employees know they are giving to charity and as John well knows, "people throw in extras and it's a group effort."

John initially heard advertisements for Sleep Country USA's Foster Kids Program. He liked the idea of the entire family participating.

The family also gave, in the past, to a daycare for homeless mothers. It was more of a monetary giving though.

With the Sleep Country USA Foster Care Program, the family enjoys hands-on participation.

It is important to Pam and John to teach their children the value and importance of giving. The family's annual tradition provides quality time together, the sharing of gift ideas and zany spending.

It is most important that everyone give from the heart. Pam wishes to encourage people to give- even just one gift.

The family has also given to "Angel Tree "at church, and likes the lessons children gain from it.

Pam believes, "It takes away from ourselves and helps others."

John is quick to add, "It shows our kids that there are needy people out there. It's important that they learn that so they can give back to the community."

The family feels blessed.

They live in the SeaTac home where Pam grew up. They purchased it from her folks.

Both Pam and John were raised in intact homes, not affected by divorce. They are especially thankful for these things. They also have enjoyed a holiday trip to Disneyland - something on their wish list!

Soon, it will be time to start the coffee roasting, provide tasty snacks and accumulate the savings for next year's event.

Playing Santa is one thing, but it's tempting to ask the big question. Does Pam really feel like Santa?

With a gleam in her eye, she recently admitted, "Sometimes!"