Annual visit with ole Saint Nick...

Cole was weeks old his first Christmas back in 2006 so we didn't make a trip to sit on Ole Saint Nick's lap but I knew that the following year that I wanted to find a special Santa Claus to visit each holiday season. Spring forward to November 2007 as we began getting ready for the season. I didn't want to go to a mall and have Cole sit on the lap of crappy costumed Claus with the fake beard and polyester get-up. I was on the hunt for a Santa that looked like Santa should. I hoped I could find one amidst the hundreds of ones that looked as if they were donning Halloween rentals. And then I got a postcard from our local nursery/greenery where I had bought our perennials and annuals shortly after we had moved in in May. There on the front was Old Saint Nick with a real beard, twinkling eyes and festive clothing/robe and boots. It was just a photograph but it spoke to me and at that point, it was settled, Tonkadale Nursery was where we were headed the weekend after Thanksgiving when Ole Saint Nick would be visiting for two days with the added bonus that pets were welcome in the pictures and a triple bonus that the pictures were FREE plus you could take your own.

We showed up early and only waited in line a short time. Santa arrived with a merry greeting and a magical presence and looked just like he had on the postcard. I felt giddy at such a find. Cole was not happy being placed on Santa's lap and a very upset kiddo with a smiling Santa was our photo that year and the next and the next and the next. Four years running, we went, same Santa, same scenario with a crying Cole and our favorite smiling Saint Nick. Last year, days shy from turning five, we went again, but this time, though slightly hesitant, Cole actually smiled and allowed Santa to talk with him. As the days neared this year and we began talking about our visit with Santa, Cole was all excited and wanted to make a Christmas wish list. He cut out pictures of the things he wanted and created a separate sheet for each of six items. We headed out the Saturday after Thanksgiving and again, though slightly reticent, he eagerly kept asking as we stood in line when Santa would get there. As a "HO, HO, HO" rung out, Cole's eye got big and he strained to see through the crowd. The same Santa as years past stopped and waved as he made his way to his seat. Cole looked at us and said "Mom, it is the real Santa, look!". When it was his turn, he hopped up onto the stage and began chatting away showing Santa his sheets. As he got down and began to walk away, he stopped and said "Santa, I'm going to be in Pennsylvania this year at my Gigi and Pop Pop's for Christmas". Santa replied "I know Cole, Santa knows these things". The expression on Cole's face was priceless. He ran over and told us that Santa already knew he would be in PA. So for another year, the magic of the holidays lives on thanks in part to our favorite Ole Saint Nick.