Nolan Visits Santa: Year Three

On Friday my mom and I took Nolan for our 3rd Annual trip to see Santa at Northpark Mall.  The week prior we had a "trial run" of sorts with an impromptu trip to visit Santa at the Galleria with friends. Nolan hid behind my legs and appeared to freeze at the sight of him. After we left I told Nolan that Santa would now know what he wanted for Christmas since he did not sit on his lap and tell him. I said "Nolan, he does not know that you want the Crash and Go Speedway. He may just bring you a doll since you did not tell him."  Nolan literally stop dead in his tracks and thought about that for a moment or two.

All week we reminded Nolan that he would have another chance this Friday to tell Santa what he wanted. He assured us he was ready. With his Gran and Poppy they role played sitting in Santa’s lap. After briefly cooperating he told them, "I have been bad. I don’t have to talk to Santa."  OK Mr. Smarty Pants! Friday morning Nolan acted excited and said he was ready.

Now going to visit this Santa is quite the ordeal. He is extremely popular because he truly is the best looking  Santa. There is a reason he has been voted the "Best Santa in America."  Unfortunately it is not a secret. You wait hours to see him.  So at 9:20 AM on Friday we got to the mall and proceeded to go get our number. We got 28.  That may not sound that bad, but Santa does not start seeing children until 11:30. We were told our number would be called around 12:30.  To pass the time we visited the wonderful exhibit the "Trains of Northpark."  This is always a favorite and good time killer too. This is the third year to visit these trains and it is so fun to see how Nolan enjoys it more and more each year.  A train carrying "diggers and dumpers" was a favorite of course.

We proceeded to story time with Santa at 11:00. We thought this would be a good way to get acquainted with Santa before Nolan’s "one on one" time. After story time we decided to head to the toy store for some good old fashioned bribery. Nolan was allowed to choose two Matchbox cars that would be his for the "low price of sitting on Santa’s lap and smiling for a picture!"  Of course he said he would oblige. At about 12:15 we headed back to see what number was up on the display. It was somewhere around 11! That was slightly disappointing. We decided to stay in the large waiting area for Santa for fear of our number being called and we were not there. Children raced around  this area and Nolan decided to join in.

At number 20 we decided to put on Nolan’s Christmas sweater and comb his hair. You would have thought by putting on the sweater that Nolan had just learned all his cars and trucks had disappeared. Major whining and complaining ensued. He pulled on his sweater and pleaded for it to be taken off. We reminded him of the cars that awaited him if he just made good choices. Mom also pulled out a secret weapon of a chocolate Santa if he cooperated. Although Nolan continued to demonstrate his misery and dislike of the sweater, as our number got closer and closer, his attention and focus changed to the close proximity we were to Santa.  We rehearsed with Nolan what he would say and he promised he was going to make good choices.

When it was finally our turn Nolan walked slowly to Santa and proceeded to sit in his lap. My mom and I both let out a huge sigh of relief.  Last year Nolan burst in tears as soon as he got close to Santa. This was progress. Santa asked him his name to which Nolan appropriately responded. He showed Santa with his fingers how old he was. It was a cross between two and three fingers displayed. When it was time for the BIG QUESTION Nolan told Santa he wanted a package of cars. As the attention turned to smiling for the camera Nolan froze. The best way to describe it is a "deer in the headlights look." Completely expressionless. His chin was slightly down and his eyes were sort of rolled up. A very weird face indeed. The photographer acted silly and pulled out an Elmo doll that danced. Nada. Nothing. My mom reminded Nolan of the bribes that awaited. Nope. Santa even pulled out a spinning light up toy (that worked wonders on the child in front of us in line), but Nolan continued to remain frozen.  Nolan’s visit with Santa had to end. Nolan was given a gift bag from Santa and off the platform we went. Nolan then smiled the most perfect smile. Well of course!

He had not forgotten that he was finally able to take his sweater off. He promptly wanted his matchbox cars, chocolate Santa, and a lollipop given to him by Santa. Although we did not get the smiling pose with Santa, I think him looking at Santa is very sweet. Somehow you could interpret this pose as Nolan looking in the eyes of this magical man with wonder, excitement, and awe….but we know better.

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Click here for the pictures with captions.