Will Santa take the plate?

Daniel had been in Santa mode since well before Thanksgiving. As soon as the catalogs started sliding through the mail slot, he was all about what Santa was going to bring for Christmas. I had him circle items in a catalog because he would ask incessantly when Santa would come. When we went to the mall to visit Santa, he and I discussed asking Santa nicely for his Christmas desire (a "gawage" for his cars) and including Elizabeth in the conversation. Aunt Johanna planned to meet us for the big moment.

We got to the mall early because in D.C. every kid attraction is pandemonium an hour after it opens. The line was pretty short, and as we got closer Daniel tugged my hand and said, "Mommy, where are the toys?" I was confused. "Mommy, where are the toys we get from Santa?" Aaaahhh, I realized Daniel thought he would GET toys from Santa when he went to see him. I was able to clear up that misconception with no tears, and up we marched. He did not want to sit on Santa's lap (who, in my opinion, is the best mall Santa I have ever seen; so sweet and soft-spoken), but he chirped, "A gawage pwease. And shoes for Lizabeth." Well, okay, shoes it would be. Elizabeth screamed her head off during the photo and we were done.

Fast forward two weeks, we are in Niceville for Christmas with Gramps and Gigi. Daniel saw the history of Santa Claus movie (one of the classics) and now has all of the logistics down - flying through the air, landing on the roof, reindeer, chimney (G & G have one, thankfully), cookies and carrots out for Santa and reindeer, toys to come. It is Christmas Eve, and we have made and decorated the cookies, read "The Night Before Christmas," and the Q & A session has begun. Daniel is all kinds of excited. "Will Santa eat the cookies?" "How will he get inside?" Then, the wheels start turning. "Mommy, Santa will get Gigi's floor all dirty from the fireplace." We discuss that this is not an issue - the fireplace is clean. Then he says, "The reindeer comin' inside?" No, they stay on the roof. "Well, then how do they get the carrots?" I tell him Santa will take the carrots to the reindeer. Long pause. "You mean Santa is going to take our plate?!?" It took all of me not to laugh out loud. He was so serious. I suggested that Santa would put the carrots in his pockets and leave the plate. That seemed to be good enough.

Christmas morning was so much fun. Santa came through. Elizabeth understood the presents and ripped off the paper with delight, too.

A week or two later, we are back in D.C. sitting in traffic, and Daniel asks when Santa is coming back. We've been through this a few times since Christmas and reiterate - Santa is back at the North Pole resting until next Christmas. Pause. "He will come through the chimney next year?" Yes. "We don't have a chimney." Right, Santa is magic. He can get in lots of ways. Daniel comments that it is hard to go down the chimney. "Santa really should just use the door. It's easier."