Santa Update

This Santa thing is getting out of control! After our conversation this morning, we went to our work Christmas party tonight and Santa was there. I took Sy and Talya to see him, and was thoroughly shocked and pleased that Simon didn't scream at Santa. He didn't want to sit on his lap, so he helped me put Taly on Santa's lap.
I asked Simon if he wanted to say anything to Santa, and he looked at Santa and said, "No, we're going to go see Santa at the mall." Then, he started to get really nervous that he was going to have to sit on Santa's lap and he told him, "I have enough toys at home."
Then, on the way home, Simon announced that he wants to visit Santa at the mall because he really wants toys and if he talks to Santa, Santa will give him toys. Ben was like, "What in the world have you been telling our son?!"
I swear, all I've been doing is coaching the boy on the whole Santa's lap routine at the mall because I didn't want Sy to kick him or yell at him and then we have to have time-outs and spanks in front of Macy's. But, clearly, the boy is three and if he picks up on any "Santa will give me toys" talk, he's going to run with it.
I'm no expert, but I'm not sure he can get his little brain around how Santa could be pretend if he sees Santa everywhere he looks.
In the meantime, he loves playing "Manger Scene" and hearing the story about the angels and shepherds and Jesus being born in a barn. Our only theological hiccup seems to be that when told that Jesus came to rescue the world, Simon declared that he does NOT need to be rescued.
A boy after his mommy's (sinful) heart!
But, in this house, though Santa may be pretend, Mickey is very, very real.