I Almost Got Runover by a Reindeer

The mechanical reindeer in the shed at Saturday’s Breakfast with Santa were a little too real for my taste, but I survived the photo op.

Twin 2 and I arrived about 15 minutes before the event was to kick off, as I was looking forward to riding the train (like last year), before the area got so crowded that the train could not move safely through the limited space (like last year), but things were a little different this year.

For one, no train.

The ice-skating rink (actually roller-skating rink to emulate holiday ice skating) was now located where the train used to be.

Breakfast was now being cooked in the space where the skating rink used to be (breakfast was cooked offsite last year and brought in).

This way is better ─ hot and fresh, reminding Twin 2 of the tradition, back in the day, when I’d take her and her sister to various community pancake breakfasts.

Instead of the train, scattered around were scenes for photo ops.

Twin 2 and I took advantage of every one of them.

Twin 2 chose to pose inside the giant light bulb.

I opted for the giftbox.

Another tradition, when my girls were growing up, was a photo with Santa. Who knew I'd be taking her for that photo with me at 80 years of age ... 81 in a few weeks, she at 56 ... 57 in eight days.

Breakfast kicked off with the arrival of the Carolers.

While Twin 2 was enjoying her pancakes, I wandered off and came across a reindeer that didn't try to run this grandma/great grandma over.