Ho Ho meet & greet
By Kirsten Ballard
Published in News on December 23, 2014 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Siblings Jamarion Cole, 5, left, and Zoey Pennington, 4, talk to Santa Claus as he shows them his red hat at Berkeley Mall on Monday afternoon. The pair of youngsters, obviously thrilled to meet the Jolly Old Elf in person, spent several minutes describing to him what they hope to receive under the tree Christmas morning.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Chloe Campbell, 2, excitedly visits Santa for the first time and tells him what she wants for Christmas this year, a princess Jeep.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Six-month-old Avelie Dickens touches Santa's beard after meeting him for the first time at Berkeley Mall on Monday afternoon.
Chloe Campbell was dressed for the occasion.
In head to toe green and red ruffles, the 2-year-old was ready to meet Santa.
She was going to ask him for a Barbie.
She held mom Mandy Jefferson's hand in line.
"Wait our turn," Chloe sang as she jumped up and down.
Last year, when she met Santa, her mom said she bawled.
"Right before the picture, she just started crying," Mandy said.
But not this year. Chloe ran to him with her arms outstretched.
"Look at my bow, Santa," she said.
The two chatted about her outfit before Santa gave her a reindeer headband to top off the ensemble. Chloe thanked him energetically.
"You're welcome, sweetness," he replied.
Once Mandy paid for the pictures, Chloe could not resist showing them off.
"We took a picture," she said. "That's me."
On Monday, Santa waited in Berkeley Mall, patiently listening to requests. Santa didn't even object when Avelie Dickens grabbed his beard.
Sometimes his guests just wanted to wave from a distance; sometimes children crawled familiarly into his lap for a long discussion.
Zaniya Broadie did not want to mince words.
When Santa greeted her, she replied, "I want a laptop."
The 7-year-old says she has been good this year. Santa thanked her for her input.
Zaniya was brave about meeting Santa. "I wasn't scared because I'm older," she said.
Four-year-old Zoey Pennington was a bit more cautious. She is shy.
After finally being coaxed into a tooth-baring smile, Zoey jumped off his lap and sprinted back to her mom.
For Jamiyah Patrick, it was a momentous occasion. She had never met Santa before.
She wrapped her fingers around her brother Jamarion Cole's hand, and the two cautiously approached Santa.
They quietly sat in Santa's lap and took turns whispering what they wanted.
Jamiyah wants a baby doll; Jamarion wants a police star.
Santa gave them each a reindeer headband and promised he would keep their requests in mind.
Still want to get in a visit with the Jolly Old Elf before he gets on that sleigh tomorrow?
He will be at the mall until Dec. 24. Hours are today until 8 p.m. and tomorrow from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.