Gatekeeper, Front Line, Usher, Photo

Shortcake started the day as Gatekeeper, which just means she asked every single person who came to see Santa how many were in their party. It felt like a promotion because it is a job with a lot of responsibility, and it's in the village, which is not on the front line. Note to people coming to see Santa: The Gatekeeper does not want to know who is sitting on Santa's lap, or who is taking the picture. She wants to know how many are in the party total. So do not look at her and say "one" when there are clearly 4 adults all fawning all over a child, or she will assume you are abandoning that child to visit Santa alone. Without the child's stroller. If there are five living, breathing, human beings, all five will visit Santa.

Shortcake then took a brief nap on her 20 minute break. Those breaks are just long enough for Shortcake to sit quietly and fall asleep, but luckily she always wakes up in time.

Front line was not too exciting. Pin lady (a lady who comes to visit Santaland every year to give the elves pins) gave decorative bells to two little girls who had just seen Santa, which was very nice of her. She's really a very generous woman.

After lunch Shortcake ushered, working in a house with rockin' Santa and two elves who were on it. It's very empowering to know you're working with people who know how to do their jobs. Santa said everyone would have a game night and Shortcake challenged another elf to a game of Twister. A boy with Autism came to see Santa, as well as a family with 3 children who all took turns reading their lists aloud to Santa. It was kinda adorable.

Shortcake's last group of the day, as a Photo elf, was with 4 moms and 6 kids, all under the age of 3. She managed to get all of them smiling in a photo. Shortcake Jingleberry Accomplishment Elf is her new name.