The very very long long long list

Yesterday we visited Santa at the St. John's Town Center in Jacksonville. I wasn't sure what type of reaction they children would present. As we approached this adorable little Santa house, Sam was a little hesitant, and Matthew, well he wanted to sprint to see this gray haired man! As we were waiting in line we explained to Sam who Santa is and what this whole adventure was going to be about. Matthew was jumping between the line markers, walking all over the beautiful handmade Nutcrackers larger than Santa himself. Ah Ha! We were next! Sam still had a tiny bit of fear between his eyes, but when the lady said, "Okay, it's your turn" Sam sprinted over to the big red suited man with the long white bearded man and sat on his lap. The conversation went something like this:

Santa "Hello Sam, have you been a good boy this year?"
Sam: "Yes I have, and I go poo poo on the potty, and pee pee too!"
Santa: "Wonderful, does your brother want to come up here too?"
Sam: "No he's scared of this"
Santa: "So tell me, what is on your Christmas list this year?"
Sam: "ME? I want a firetruck with a long long ladder like the one on the truck at the park. Do you know I like firetrucks? I LUVE firetrucks. Do you know I was a firefighter for Halloween? Matthew was a fire dog with a hose? They go, vrooommm vroooom vrooooooooooooooooom, see, just like that. I want the firetruck that has lots of noise, and I also like trains."
Santa: "Do you like Thomas the train?"
Sam: "TRAINS? Did you say Thomas? I LUVE Thomas. Did you know that Thomas came to my birthday party? Did you know that Matthew, he likes trains too? I luve trains. Can you give me some? Did you know that I like trucks that crash and airplanes too?

(Matthew is now on all fours trying making a mad dash for the pine cones that are on the tree that stands on a table under the fireplace, next to the candy canes! I knew what was about to happen and heck if he was going to go close to the man with the white beard and the red suit)
Santa: "Were you a good boy this year?"
Sam: "Me, yes, I was a good boy, like Matthew"
Santa: "I will put you down on my list and I'll check it twice. Now, Sam, don't forget to put cookies out for me on Christmas Eve."
Sam: "Cookies? I LUVE Cookies, do you like doughnuts? I LUVE doughnuts and trains too.......

Mommy: "All right Sam, let's tell Santa Merry Christmas and let's be on our way!"

Honestly, if I would have let him, we would STILL be there. Our anxious little Sam is still having a hard time understanding what this whole thing was about. When Santa gave him his present, Sam opened it and was so disappointed. "I don't want this...I want my firetruck that Santa is going to bring me!" So the going home conversation was all about "wishes".

Unfortunately we were told that we were unable to take photos during this Santa visit because we were not going to purchase a 4 X 5 picture from them with snowflakes and a pretty border for $15.00. We have a visual memory of the event.