Hey Ho everyone. Finally getting to put some thoughts down on the blog. Ed is correct that the mall is much busier than last year, but that also makes the days fly by.

The set is the inside of Santa's Holiday Lodge (fake log cabin with decorated trees everywhere). There are four mobile reindeer that I have named Kelowna and Kaleden (they are the twins), Victoria (she is the mother of the bunch), and from the loft overlooking the whole set is Vernon. There are times some children don't even see me as they are watching the reindeer and trees. Children enter from the 'front door' at the back of the set and come into the lodge. Santa's seat is a beautiful (and comfortable) leather wing back chair.

Lots of kids from the youngest (so far) of 2 weeks right through all the ages and stages and on to "older" people. Worst request was a little girl that wanted her Mom and Dad to find a house they could live in.............and the weirdest request was today when a young boy asked for 20 - 15lb Hersey bars (that's 300lb of chocolate!!). Lots of requests for Barbies, teddy bears, remote control anything, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and DSi, cell phones, and candy - usually from the young Mexican children who have not mastered the English language.

My day revolves around sitting on the chair and asking/answering questions for young and old. And it's a great job. I look into the eyes of children who still beleive in magic. Even if they can't speak the language they understand about Santa and the belief that he can do anything.

Enough of my ramblings for now.............will talk to one and all in awhile.