Santa, yes. Frosty, no.

Tonight we headed a short way south to see a nearby Christmas light display.  This is the third year we've gone to it and that in itself made the outing special to Josh and me.  We have not lived in one place long enough to do something the same for 3 years in a row before now.  Is it possible we are finally putting down roots? The other special part was Noah, as he usually is.

The lights were fine and we were cruising right along until we got to the drive-thru barn where Santa and Mrs. Claus always greet their visitors.  Noah got stage fright, begging us not to go closer.  As we continued to approach, Noah scrambled out of his seat and clawed his way toward Josh and me in the front.  We all but had to shove Noah back into his row.  I already had a  lapful of Anna so she'd have a good view of Santa and Josh was driving.  He was going to have to be a big boy about this.  All jittery and panicky and crying out for us not to lower the windows, Noah suddenly got a visual of Santa up ahead and started bellowing in my ear, "HO HO HOOOOOOOOOOO!"  Out of nowhere.  From no, no, no to ho, ho, ho.  That's how we made our entrance into Santa's tunnel and Santa hurried right over to the side of our car all jingly and red and genuinely bearded.  No sooner had he handed a candy cane to Noah and Anna, than Noah offered up, "Santa, I got a song for you!"  Santa said, "You've got a song for me?" Noah saw his in at that point and continued on, looking Santa straight in the eye the entire time,  "Uh huh!  You better watch out, you better not cry. You better watch out, Umm umm umm why. Santa Cwas is comin' to town."  Josh says he could hear the nerves in his voice, but I could not.  I was just impressed that he knew how to reign in his excitement and not sing every single chorus and verse he knows.  I was also smitten with the earnest shape of his tight little upper lip as he fearlessly sang to the big guy.  Santa oohed and aahed and thanked Noah for the song saying he never gets serenaded like that.  Noah just stared wondrously up at him and soaked in the encounter. He then reminded Santa that he'd like a Batman Cave for Christmas.  There was a little more chit chat. Then Santa bid us farewell and pointed us on our way to see Frosty up ahead, but not before Noah, like a little man who has casual conversation all the time, called back as we pulled away, "Bye, Santa!  And Merry Christmas!!"

Oh. My. Word.  Heart stolen all over again.

And where did that come from?  Panicked-Fear-turned-Instantly-Eager Cool-Calm-and-Collected Noah.  

And just as suddenly as the fear left, it came back when we pulled up to Frosty's house. Noah shrieked and wailed at us not to open the windows and then all fell silent. Anna was a good sport and waved though she wouldn't make eye contact for anything.  Noah wasn't saying a word so we pulled on forward. I turned around to see what had become of my boy and couldn't see Noah anywhere in the car.  Where did he go?!

Oh, right.  That's him huddled under a blanket in between the back seats, peeking out but not coming out - no way, no how - not until Frosty disappeared in our rear view mirror.  On the ride home he gave us a repetitious earful about how he did not want to see Frosty again.  Santa, yes. Frosty, no.  He only likes snowmen you can make.  That is exactly what he said.  Only snowmen you can make.