Santa

We planned our trip to see Santa weeks ago.  Jackson's 3-year well visit was scheduled for Friday, December 16.  Since his pediatrician is in Kansas City, and just a hop and a skip from Santa's Village at Oak Park Mall, we decided it was a perfect opportunity to pay a visit to Mr. Clause.

Jackson was 12 days old his first Christmas so there was no trip to see Santa that year.  We skipped it the next year, figuring at 1 year old he wouldn't remember anyway.  Last year we made an attempt in downtown Lawrence at our local department store, but Jackson wasn't interested in anything more than a wave from afar.  That meant this was going to be his first real visit with Santa.

Turns out, at Oak Park Mall you have the option to purchase a "Fast Pass" online before your visit.  It includes 2 5x7 photos, a $10 gift card to Shutterfly and a pass to the VIP line.  You know, so you can wait with the other "VIPs" instead of standing in line with the common folk. *wink* 

I hesitated because:
a) It was $20.  A bit of a racket if you ask me.
b) I wasn't 100% sure Jack would even get close to the old man.
c) I just knew if I didn't buy one, there would be 100 fussy kids and 200 irritated parents standing in line.  If I did buy it, it was going to be a slow day at Santa's village.

In the end, I bought it.  Better safe than sorry I decided.  And even if Jack did freak out, the photos of a terrified and screaming child with an obviously flustered Santa Clause are sort of hilarious if you ask me.

So we trekked through the mall, Fast Pass in hand, to find not only was it a slow day at Santa's village, there was no one there.  Not. One. Person. 

We went to the VIP lane anyway.  On principle.

Jack did great.  He was excited and not at all shy.  He answered all of Santa's questions, put in his request for golf clubs (seriously - he wants golf clubs), accepted a coloring book from Santa and we were on our way.  After getting a photo taken, cheesy grin and all, of course.

 I will remember 2 things about Jackson's first visit to see Santa Clause:

1. He was concerned about where Santa kept his sleigh and was a little disappointed he didn't get to see it.  We told him Santa must have valet parked it at Nordstroms.
2. As we walked away from the little village, I asked Jackson what he told Santa he wanted.  Jack replied, "Golf Clubs, Mom.  So where are they?"

Ho Ho Ho!