Breakfast with Santa a true delight for area children

[December 20, 2017]   LINCOLN - On Saturday morning, families enjoyed a great breakfast courtesy of the Cronin Brothers, VFW, VFW Auxiliary, and the Robert Graue Marine Corp League, held at the VFW in Lincoln.

The breakfast was cooked fresh and included pancakes, as well as a pancake on a stick with syrup, and beverages.

While there the kids in the group enjoyed an opportunity to visit with Santa Claus, perhaps for the last time before Christmas. Santa was accompanied this year by his favorite elf Tinsel. After speaking with Santa, kids were given candy canes along with coloring books and crayons.

For the most part, the kids had a great time sitting on Santa's lap. He listened carefully to their Christmas wishes and made a lot of promises of great gifts under the tree on Christmas morning.

One youngster did surprise Santa, when he said he wanted a safe for Christmas. Santa asked twice to make sure he got it right, then said it was a first for him. No child had ever asked for a safe. The young man at the urging of his mom explained that he has many treasures that he wants to keep safe, including some of his rocks and other artifacts. He told Santa when he grows up he plans to be an archeologist, and has already started his collection.

A few children were a bit reluctant to sit upon Santa's lap. Urging from Tinsel and parents and grandparents proved to have little impact as the youngsters chose instead to visit with Santa from a safe distance. Santa and Tinsel did all they could to make the youngsters comfortable including Santa sitting on the floor to coax one little lady to speak with him, and on other occasions rising from his chair to go to visit a child who had a tight grip on mom or dad.

All in all, though, even those who were reluctant left with smiles on their faces, and all the kids got the opportunity to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas, and also enjoy a breakfast around the table with parents and grandparents.

[Nila Smith]