At the BIPD Christmas party, the Chief always dresses up as Santa and gives every officer's child a gift. We were excited to see how Charlie would respond, since her favorite book this month is The Night Before Christmas, and she points out Santa everywhere we go. But since she was terrified of the life-sized characters at Disneyland in October, I had my doubts. When we arrived, she headed straight for the tree, her favorite thing at last year's party as well, and touched every light and ornament until it was time to eat, and then we waited for Santa to make his appearance. Since the kids were called in age order, our friends the Ziemba's daughter Morgan was called first, and then Abby, so Charlie was eagerly anticipating her own turn with Santa until her name was called. Then she grabbed Jeff in a vice grip, and when he carried her up to sit next to Santa, she tried to climb Jeff like a tree to get away from the bearded stranger. She couldn't wait to sit back in her seat next to me, but then she waved sadly once the gifts were given out and Santa was leaving, saying mournfully, "Goodbye, Santa. See you next year." Later she proudly told us she saw Santa and he gave her a present, as if she had never been afraid at all. At least it's apparently a happy memory for her, and she isn't dreading Santa coming again in a week and a half.
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