Monday Dec. 11th

Look, it's Saturday morning, and Shortcake is drinking tea, listening to Christmas music and catching up on her blog.  But Shortcake, you say, we thought you had a 10K to run on Roosevelt Island this morning?  Well gentle readers, Shortcake is opposed to running outside when the wind chill is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.  She is also opposed to getting out of bed at 7am on the only day in the week when she can sleep until 9am. 

Anyway, last Monday.  Shortcake brought her ukulele, and Santa spent some time noodling on it.  We had a VIP visit, and a reporter visit.  Shortcake spent most of her time dealing with scheduling and logistics for the week.  Santa got a card covered in glitter, so he got glitter in his beard.

There was a breastfeeding mom walking through Santaland.  This, in itself, was not worth commenting on.  But, apparently, her entire breast was exposed while she did it.  And this became the talk of the village for the rest of the night.  The elves were supportive of her breastfeeding choice, and "more power to her" was said multiple times.

Luna walked past the door of the house with a stroller an made a silly face at Santa as she did it.  The timing was impeccable.

The pin lady visited!

Look at this beautiful pin she gave Shortcake!

Sad news!  The projector was out in the maze.

Usually the Aflac ducks sit and watch Miracle on 34th Street around a campfire.  And Shortcake is jealous, because she wants to watch Miracle on 34th Street around a campfire.  But on Monday, the projector didn't work!  So the ducks just sat there, not watching a movie!  It was so sad!

The bro elves (you know, Treetop and JingleSnaps and Dumpling, etc) got to work in the house together. 

Somehow Cannoli, Shortcake thinks that's Cannoli, snuck in there.

Brownie and Twinkle Toes made the best elf wall ever!  Shortcake and Santa were on the move, and Brownie and Twinkle Toes dove at a family to distract them from seeing something maybe they didn't want to see.  Shortcake gave them both EARS.

Willie came by to see Santa again.  Snowball has taken him under his wing, and it warms the cockles of Shortcake's heart.  Snowball has given Willie boundaries and rules.  Willie is not allowed to see Santa until he behaves up to Snowball's expectations.  And Snowball gives him space to meet his expectations, but then Willie will revert to his old behavior in front of other elves, and Snowball will have to go out and talk to him. 

When the final family came through the gate in the Village, Shortcake high fived Treetop.  Except that she had to jump to do it.  There was a prep and a high five and a landing.  Once the families were clear of the Village, Shortcake led Santa and the elves on a Santa train.  It was her first ever!  Santa and all the elves join hands and walk through the entire Village chanting "Ho Ho Ho."  It's fun and not at all cult-like, which Shortcake realized the description kinda sounded creepy.

We have a new elf this year, Shortbread.  Perhaps Shortcake has mentioned her before.  Well, Santa went to ask Shortcake a question at the end of the night. 

Santa: Shortbread, I have a question.
Shortcake: Well, first of all, my name's not Shortbread.

Something has been lost in the telling.  It was hilarious at the time.

As the elves prepared to go home for the night, Figgy and Santa spontaneously burst into a duet of "Agony."

Oh, remember when there was a strawboss hat?  And we couldn't figure out who wore it better?

Blissful won.  Just like we knew she would.