Santa Story

Back in November a friend of mine shot out a group text about an event at a kid play place.  It's got a ball pit and climbing toys and a video game dance floor thing and blocks and a bounce house.  It's about the size of a large ranch house, just all one room.

With a gate that locks.

It's more fitting for kids under 5 but G has been and had a good time.  But mostly it's a crawl and climb place.

The event was titled, Cookies with Santa.  At the time I only had one magical Christmas memory planned and I had been looking to add something.  So it seemed fitting.  I signed us up.  The day came....





Santa came in and was very jolly.  A few kids walked over gingerly or eagerly, Hi Santa!  He was charming and fun with all of them.  About five minutes in I felt someone tugging on my shirt.

Mom.  Mom!  It was David.  Mom!  He has brown boots!

He does sweetie.  He gave me a pointed look.  He wondered off to play.  G waved at Santa and talked to him a bit.  Julia I don't think even saw him, being too enamored with the ball pits and the slides.

Santa went to his chair to begin his private chats.  We were second!  Kids collected, we walked over there.  I told David (who is not a fan of characters) that if he would stand near him for one picture he'd be free to go.  He got a grave look and shook his head.  Please David?

Fine.

We approach.  Grady walks over and starts chatting.  Julia stares but eventually moves closer.  David won't round the corner.  Wining I move him closer, but he won't do it.  Not even for one picture.  Not wanting to make Santa uncomfortable I held Julia and stood by David.  A picture was snapped.  I tried one more time, with him next to Grady and not Santa.  A picture was taken.





Later on, Santa read a story and the kids were given a bag of cookies.  When the story was done David had some questions, so we walked over but he wouldn't look at him.  But I was able to get them a bit closer.  By this time (about two hours into this event) Julia was downright chatty.  And told Santa she would like a pink unicorn for Christmas.

We left for home.  It was a splendid morning.

The next day we went to the mall to make a return and to shop for Daddy.  We procured some items and then were walking towards the last stop (the return place that had just opened).  We walked by the mall Santa.  David ran over to the overhang to look.  Gasping he ran back to me.

Mom!  Mom!  He has black boots!

What?

He has black boots!  I need to tell him what I want for Christmas.

David we just saw Santa yesterday and you wouldn't talk to him.

He had brown boots, he says.  As if no other explanation is needed.

What?

He points toward the mall Santa.

He has black boots and a black belt and no bells!  He's missing some key nouns but I'm starting to figure out how his mind is working.

Santa yesterday had brown boots.  So you couldn't tell him what you wanted for Christmas?

He nods.  He was fake.

So you need to tell this Santa what you want, because he looks real?  Bouncing on his feet.

Yes!

There was no line (it was 9:45AM) so we went down and waited a teeny bit and when it was our turn David jumped right up on his lap and still rather shyly, told him what he wanted.  A robot.  A rock collection.  A picture was taken.  We went on our way.

 But the more I thought about it the more floored I got.  So when we got home I made David sit down and tell me the story again, on camera.  And at the end he says ... But Grady didn't care [that he was fake].  He didn't care.

So in love with this story, am I, that I told my inlaws and the first thing that Granddad said was, Did you report the faker to the real Santa?

And boy do I wish I had had a camera on David's face.  Because clearly he hadn't thought of that and clearly it was an important idea.

We have to go back.

And I laughed.  And said I think we've had enough Santa.

The season is so short.  Over in a flash.  It's a mad dash of days and weekends and too little work and too much sweets.  I had a lovely Christmas season, if not a fabulous actual Christmas because me and two of my kids got sick (family visits!) and I went and did and tried but I was weary.  We cancelled our ski trip because there was no snow, I was sick and we were spent.  My parents ended up coming here instead and it was lovely.  We did virtually nothing.  Just watched movies took down Christmas and I even got to sneak out and see the Star Wars movie.  Which I didn't hate.  Or love.  I don't like what they've done to Lea, I don't think Luke is dead (they clearly didn't say that and I know a loop hole when I see one), and we still don't know how Rey's parents are and that's okay.  We don't know who Han Solo's parents are either.  But she's a jedi, and they're trying to make a point.  So.  I'd imagine there's Skywalker somewhere.

But what I loathe.  Loathe.  And what I just can't get over.

That Han and Lea's son is evil.  Nope.  Can't do it.  So I'll never love these movies on that premise alone.  But I do like Rey.  And Poe.  And Finn.  And Rose.  And BB8.  It was a fun diversion that was well done and better acted than previous offerings.  So peace, rebel scum.  Let the movie people do their thing.

And I love Adam Driver.  Patriot and a Marine.  Hoo-Ah.