Kicking Santa in the shin

While visiting Jennifer with the kids this weekend, Shelby mentioned talking on the phone with Santa Claus. Kate was shocked. Who gets to do that? As it turns out, Shelby's Aunt Patti has connections. She has Santa's cell phone number. Given we are in the throws of Santa's peak season, we weren't able to call him directly but sure enough, just a few minutes later, Santa called the girls. Kate will assure you, he was the real Santa because he knew her name and the names of her sisters and brother. Things were going well until Kate stepped into the bathroom with Shelby to continue their call with some privacy. You see, Kate has had a "secret" Christmas request for about a month. No one was allowed to know what she was going to ask Santa to bring for Christmas.  Within seconds, Kate burst out of the bathroom and exclaimed she was getting a puppy for Christmas! A what? Say what? Please dear God tell me I am dreaming. She couldn't contain her excitement as she rehashed the entire conversation and it ended with Santa telling her she has been a good girl so he was going to do what he could to bring her a puppy. At this point, I was glaring at Jennifer who was looking rather shocked herself. She instantly texted Aunt Patti demanding an explanation and was offered simply, "I think Santa misunderstood the cues"!!! I want to kick Santa in the shins. I was scrambling to reiterate to Kate that Santa has a parent pact and is not allowed to bring living creatures into the house unless authorized to do so. I let her know Brutus is old and tired so a puppy would not be a good idea. I reminded her how much work Mia and Woody were and asked her to think long and hard about even wanting a puppy. I was ready to cry as I pleaded with her to reconsider her request while my brain scrambled "we are in a mess!" We are 24 hours into "Santa gate" and she is growing more and more excited. She is thinking of names, planning when to get a crate and where the puppy will sleep. I am desperately trying to work out a plan to let her down as gently as possible, while feeling like the Grinch who stole Christmas. At this point, it appears Santa is going to write a letter explaining the elves in charge of puppies have run into a shortage this year so they have to prioritize the kids who don't already have a dog above her request. To soften the blow, a Build-a-Bear puppy named Peppy (short for Peppermint) has been ordered to be delivered with the letter. Ba-hum-bug. Yep, I could kick Santa in the shin.