Seeing Santa

Santa arrived by fire truck as is the Roslindale yearly tradition. Last year he was flanked by two urban youth. This year, it was a man with a 5 0'clock shadow. Both kids were excited to see Santa but then clammed up with they got on his lap. They looked pretty uncomfortable in the pictures and I think it was a little awkward as neither really answered him when he asked what they wanted for Christmas. The whole notion is new to Angelo, of course, who wouldn't even consider seeing Santa last year. On our walk to the square Angelo told me he was going to ask Santa for "a Christmas," and that he planned on saying please. They were both excited to get candy canes though. Abraham's Christmas request list is pretty simple this year: yellow chuck taylors and tonight he added a pair of black yoga pants to the short list.

As for their outfits. There was an impromtu altering of too small Halloween costumes just as we were leaving. I think Angelo thinks you dress up for all holiday so he got the costumes out. You don't have to ask Abraham twice to dress up so suddenly we had kids wearing animal tops and headbands to see Santa Claus.

Sharing

Abraham and Angelo continue to be great buddies. There's still plenty of normal brotherly ridiculing, teasing and the occasional karate chop to the head but for the most part, they get along great. Today, Angelo had snagged the one remaining pair of spider man fingerless gloves ("biking gloves") and as we were on our way to the Arboretum to bike, both kids wanted them. Abraham tried getting mad at Angelo but then realized that wouldn't work. He then moved on to trying to persuade him and finally settled on a compromise. Each of them would wear one glove. Angelo got so excited by that idea, he threw off one glove and laughed. He exclaimed, "Abey asked for one of my gloves and I was happy to share with him!" If most disputes were that easily settled, life would be very quiet around here.