Forgot to add that we saw a motorcade this morning! It was a ton of police motorcycles and even stopping side street lights to let the motorcade through! I was excited for Maddy's sake who has never seen one. In Northern VA you tend to expect motorcades with all the politicians and dignitaries we host in DC it's pretty mundane--almost annoying actually since it stops up traffic.
However, today's was DIFFERENT! After the long line of motorcycles a motorcycle in the middle comes along with a sidecar and who is in it??? SANTA!!! No kidding! Santa comes through waving and saying ho-ho-ho! After the motorcycle comes a police car and who's sticking out the window but Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. Maddy was sooooo psyched! (Yes, I know, it's a 90's word but there's no better word to describe it). She said, "But mommy! Follow Santa! That way!!!" She knew we were going to the mall to see him. I told her that he has a short cut and he'd meet us there.
So when we were at the mall I told the Santa, "It was nice seeing you in the motorcade today. Maddy was worried when you were going the other way but I told her you had the short cut." He said, "Oh yes, shortcuts and lots of magic dust, too!" He was a great Santa.