Santa!!!

*Sigh*

Saturday was BJ's last full day to study for the dental board examinations, so we had to get the kids out of the house. Trisha kindly invited us to go with her and her kids to Joseph Beth, a big beautiful bookstore downtown, where Santa was going to visit and read a story to the kids. Everyone was invited to bring their kids and cameras to take pictures with Santa after story time.

McKay, Benson, and I piled into the car and headed off to see Santa for the first time. McKay was very excited to tell Santa what he would like for Christmas and, of course, to play with the train table at Joseph Beth.

We arrived just before Santa descended the escalator to arrive in the Children's section of the bookstore. When he did, the kids were so excited and sat very patiently as Santa read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to all the kids.

Once the story was over, there was a mass movement to form a Santa-sitting line. And somehow we ended up at the very back. For a group of 2 and 3 year olds, that line seemed endless. So, we opted to visit the train table while we waited.

McKay and Benson love this train table. We visit Joseph Beth often for the singular purpose of playing on it (never mind that we have a train table in our own house). Anyway, on this Saturday, the train table was busy. The entire store was packed and the children's section was no exception. Things started off well...until McKay decided he wanted a train that another little boy was using. He asked nicely for it once and then, when the train wasn't delivered forthwith, he flew into a terrible tizzy. He ran screaming at the top of his lungs through the aisles of books, wailing something about not sharing.

It was as if a collective hush fell over the entire store. All eyes searching for the source of all that noise. I chased after McKay, practically begging him to calm down but to no avail. I could see he was not going to be quieted which left us with only one choice. I scooped up a kicking and screaming McKay under one arm, and Benson, who had been playing nicely until he was unceremoniously dragged away, under the other. A kind parent pushed the elevator button for me and up I went with two screaming children.

The elevator served to amplify the screaming so when we finally reached the top and the door opened, the whole store was staring (many in disgust) at the parade of ill-behaved children and their frazzled mother.

It was about this time that McKay realized his opportunity to talk to Santa had been compromised. His screams turned then from indistinguishable shouts to a piercing, "SANTA!!!!!" which he screamed over and over again as we dashed madly for the door.

I don't think I've ever been so embarrassed in all my life. Even my infamous bra mishap on TV (plenty embarrassing, I assure you) doesn't compare to walking through a gigantic store carrying what appeared to be two totally spoiled children screaming about Santa at the top of their lungs. I felt like the whole store was collectively shaking their heads at this terrible mother.

Poor McKay was sorely disappointed. He sobbed all the way home about not getting to talk to Santa. However, I think it was a lesson well-learned. And perhaps we'll find another opportunity to talk with Santa. Maybe we'll even get a picture.