Ho! Ho! No!

I had been building up the anticipation for a few days now: Gusi would meet Santa Claus again. Last year he did really well and sat on Santa's lap long enough to give him his Christmas wish list and take a picture. We had practiced our HO HO HOs for days but it would not bear the fruit I had wanted.

The embassy was having a Christmas party and even though it was quite sunny today, Santa Claus came by in full get-up and took pictures with all the kids. We got there a bit late but were able to see Santa eventually. Gusi had seen the dessert table--with chocolate cake sitting on it--while waiting in line and was upset that we were passing it up to wait even longer. So, finally, when we got to see Santa an abrupt NO! came out of his mouth. No Santa, Mami! I squatted down with him but still No Santa, Mami! was all I heard. All anyone heard actually. The photographer snapped a picture and that was that. Gusi got a Christmas tree lollipop and ran off to play with the turtle and the other kids, all the while saying No Santa.

On our way home I kept asking Gusi what had happened with Santa. He laughed and said No Santa. I said, "but Gusi, I thought you were going to say Ho, Ho, Ho Merry Christmas to Santa." He looked at me from his car seat and said, "no Ho, Ho, Ho Mami, no Santa."

He was quite content to just hang out and have fun at the party. The Christmas tree was actually a bigger hit than Santa. Go figure.