Surliest Santa ever

My kids were in a good mood for Santa, but Santa was a little cranky yesterday evening.  We got there over a half an hour before the posted closing time, but since the mall was kind of dead because of a "blizzard" of snow (about an inch and a half!), Santa had decided he was closing up shop a little early.  We got there before he was officially closed, and it was clear from comments I overheard him making that he thought he was done already.

He acted like he was doing us a huge favor by letting our kids sit on his lap for a whole minute.  He just sort of grunted when I told him it was Peter's birthday, and he pretty much ignored Charlotte as she told him she wanted "lots and lots of presents" for Christmas.  Jerk.  Oh well -- the picture actually turned out okay, despite the lack of smiles.  Stupid Santa.  As Corey said, we will be taking our Santa business elsewhere next year.  Here is Mr. Surly with his two biggest fans:

I do think it is the same mall Santa we had last year.  He looked a little happier then, though.

We can't tell if he is the same one from 2008:



It might be fun to make this a birthday tradition for Petey.  Seeing Santa could give him a chance to ask for everything he didn't get in his present haul that day for his birthday!