Breakfast with Santa Serves Smiles and Sprinkles in Silver Bay

There’s something undeniably adorable about pictures of kids with Santa—whether they’re beaming with joy or clinging to their parents either in shy­ness or pure terror. But then there are kids like Willa (captured in the cutest photo ever), who know exactly how to handle the big guy.

“She jumped right up on Santa’s lap and let him know she wanted a dolly with a stroller,” Jenny Bjerken shared with me after they had attended the Breakfast with Santa event held at the William Kelley School Galley on Sat­urday the 21st. “Willa absolutely loved it.”

The event was host­ed by the Silver Bay After Prom Commit­tee, which raises funds for the After Prom Par­ty. The planning of the party is a special rite of passage for junior students. According to their GoFundMe page, the goal is to provide a safe, alcohol-and drug-free environment where students can dance, play games, eat, win prizes, and have a blast at an overnight lock-in.

Though this was the committee’s first Breakfast with Santa, its popularity makes it likely to become a new holiday tradition for local families.

“We hope that the After Prom Committee in years to come will continue ‘Breakfast with Santa’ and make it an annual event!” said Lacey Shoen, a committee member. “It was a super fun day full of Christmas mu­sic and lots of laughter. It was a feel-good kind of afternoon with the community.”

The dads of the com­mittee spent the morn­ing slinging pancakes in the kitchen.

“They were ma­chines back there!” said Shoen. The de­lectable delights were extra tasty with syrup, whipped cream, and sprinkles on top.

Eleven parents vol­unteered, and four ju­niors helped by deco­rating and serving up the breakfast while kids had their pictures taken with the guests of honor.

“Santa & Mrs. Claus were fantastic and so happy to be there,” recalled Shoen. “Al­though, Mrs. Claus thought that Santa had enough sugar for the day and had to tell him to slow down with the whipped cream and sprinkles.”

Bjerken is one of many who hopes the event will become a yearly tradition. “They did a great job!” she said. “Good breakfast and great little setup for Santa and Mrs. Claus.”

I hope Santa made sure to deliver Willa’s dolly and stroller— and that everyone re­ceived something spe­cial they really wanted for Christmas!