Santa Rod!?!

Upon arrival at the ward Christmas party, Rod & I were disappointed to hear that the fantastically enthusiastic gentleman who typically plays Santa at our church parties was out of town this year. When nobody seemed overly eager to step-in for the job, Rod stepped-it-up and volunteered to fill the boots & wear the beard.

Needless to say, our family (and everyone else) got a pretty good laugh out of Santa Rod.

Rod used the Clerk's Office as his wardrobe station.
Hmmm...not so sure this guy looks like the real deal...

 

Santa Rod made a pretty decent entrance.
As the kids lined up to place their orders, Santa Rod's challenge of fooling his own children began...

 

Lila seemed a little too eager to sit on Santa Rod's lap (she put up a pretty good fight against the Mall Santa this year).

 

Will gave Santa Rod a pretty good stare...

 

But happily placed his order for a Woody toy & lots of dinosaurs.

 

Savannah is WAY too in love with her Daddy to be fooled by the crazy get-up. After a few quick requests, she said,

"Santa...you sound really familiar..."

 

And she felt mighty proud to be sitting on her Daddy's lap!

 

As it turns out, Savannah wasn't the only child who figured out Santa Rod's true identity.

When Santa Rod went back to the Clerk's office to change, a mob of sugar-highed children pounded on the door, yelling accusations of...

"Faker!!!! You're a fake Santa!!! We know you're in there!!! Fake Santa!!!!!"

Rod had no where to turn but to the window of the Clerk's Office. He made a stealthy escape, but spent the rest of the evening being challenged, tormented, and all-in-good-humor teased by the unbelievers.

 

I, personally, couldn't be more proud of Rod & think he should add "Played Santa at the Ward Christmas Party" to his already long list of lifetime achievements.