We hadn't even been in our seats long enough to open our menus when he trounced over to our table. "Hi, there!" he enthusiastically said to Alexis. "We have a mail box for Santa over by the door. Did you see it?" he paused momentarily, but not really long enough for anyone to respond. "If you fill this letter out for Santa and put it in the mailbox, he might send you something!" With a flourish, the Bob Evans manager handed Alexis' a piece of paper and flittered away.

He was so enthusiastic that we couldn't really ignore his request. Once we had placed our brinner order, Mr. Husband set to helping Alexis write the letter. "What do you want for Christmas?" he asked.

For months, that question has elicited the same response. "A Princess ball!" she will exclaim. Santa was kinda liking this thing where the kid only wanted a $6 ball, except that he couldn't seem to figure out where she saw the one that she wanted. Santa might be losing his mind over THAT minor detail. So, he was a bit relieved to hear that Alexis had come up with a brand spanking new answer this time around. "A guitar and a microphone!" she said.

The not yet four-year old carefully set out to draw the letters as Mr. Husband spelled the words for her. Until she got to her name, that is. She didn't need help with that part.

Before she could finish, the very excited manager stopped by again. "Oh! Look! You're working on your letter! When you are finished, I'll help you take it to Santa's mailbox!" he exclaimed. The Real Santa was starting to wonder if the manager was working on some sort of Santa Letter commission as he seemed to be doing nothing but flittering from kid to kid pimping for that mailbox. The Real Santa thought maybe some drink refills would be nice.

Anyway.

When all was said and done, there was a carefully crafted letter in Santa's box. Alexis had managed to write all but two of the characters all. by. herself.

The Real Santa was so proud he rushed to the computer when he got home and ordered that guitar and microphone. Now Santa just has to figure out where the heck the kid saw that very specific Princess ball.