Breakfast with Santa

This morning, Santa came to visit our local YMCA.  I'm pretty sure this was not a local guy dressed up in a Santa suit; he was a professional.  It was evident he took his role seriously and truly looked and acted like the real guy!  This year, Eli replaced his fear of Santa with a new-found curiosity and interest, showing no trepidation at all as he had in previous years.  He informed Santa of an item he wished for this year and with some prompting, asked him the question he asked us on the way there.  No sooner had I started saying, "Where are the..." in an attempt to get Eli to finish his question he had earlier, Santa quickly replied, "Reindeer?"  (He must get that a lot).  He explained to Eli he flew here today on a jet and that the reindeer were back home at the North Pole. 

As for this pose, it was all Santa's idea.  He said he wanted us to start a new family tradition with Aliyah beginning this year.  He knew of a mother-daughter duo who did the same thing, where they both took a picture with Santa every year from the time of the daughter's first Christmas until she was 18 years old!!  (I'm not so sure I am going to be keeping up this tradition.) 

Our local Y also offered doughnuts and juice for the kids, along with a free Christmas book - such a neat idea!  Books are always my favorite gifts for the kids.  Eli was even able to meet up with one of his preschool classmates who was also there and sat at the same table.  Lastly, there was a make and take gingerbread man craft kit.  It was a fun morning!