The breakfast party was booked solid long before the guests of honor - Santa and Mrs. Claus - arrived at Regional Hospital of Scranton Saturday morning, ringing bells and offering hugs.
The annual event was sponsored by Commonwealth Hospice of NEPA and drew families from within and outside the hospital community who wanted to share a meal and a visit with Santa.
Danielle O'Malley-Vanvalen, 3, quickly won favor with Mrs. Claus, who kneeled to admire her sparkling pink shoes.
But her heart was set on Santa, and she pointed him out wherever he went in the McGowan Conference Center.
"She loves him," her mother, Kate O'Malley, said. "Last year, she wanted no part of him."
When it was finally her turn to sit on Santa's lap, Danielle put her arm around his neck to whisper that she wants a puzzle for Christmas.
Luciano Calderone, 9, had a similarly modest wish list. He asked for the book, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," which is part of a series, but he said he would not mind getting them one at a time.
He was sporting an elf hat with pointy felt ears and elf shoes that curl up at the toe.
Were he really Santa's helper, "I would be good at making toy robots - electronic ones," he said. "I want to be a scientist when I grow up."
Contact the writer: llegere@timesshamrock.com