Although kids mostly asked for Lego sets and slime, Santa said he received a lot of requests for more expensive items, such as video game consoles and cellphones.

“They really want the expensive stuff,” Santa said, adding he always asks the kids how old they are when they request costly items.

“If they’re too young, then I’ll just say, ‘You’re too young to have a phone,'” Santa said.

Many of the children Santa met with last Friday were too young to make requests for phones, he said.

Ainsley Mravintz, 4, and her brother, Wyatt Mravintz, 3, both of Ellwood City ride the train at the Logan Valley Mall after their visit with Santa. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Since some of the children were toddlers, parents told Santa what their children wanted for Christmas as their sons and daughters sat on his lap for a photo opportunity.

Reading from his nice list, Santa said Cameron Miller, 1, of East Freedom asked for a toy workbench play set; Scarlett George, 11 months, of Bellwood wants a toy drum set; and Darla Sibis, 2, of Cresson doesn’t mind what she gets as long as it relates to “Peppa Pig” — her favorite television show.

Wyatt Mravintz, 3, of Ellwood City, Lawrence County, said he asked Santa to bring him a dinosaur for Christmas. Wyatt and his sister, Ainsley, 4, were among the first in line to meet Santa at the mall while visiting with family members.

Although Santa can’t bring Wyatt a real dinosaur, he said he has an abundance of dinosaur toys and books at the North Pole. With a twinkle in his eye, Santa said he will bring Wyatt something that will make his imagination roar as loud as a Tyrannosaurus rex.

After all, the best gifts are the ones that inspire people to dream big, Santa said with a chuckle.

Eleven-month-old Scarlett George sits on Santa’s lap for a photo at the Logan Valley Mall. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

While Santa was at the mall, Mrs. Claus was at the North Pole keeping an eye on his elves, who were working hard to fill the children’s Christmas orders, Santa said, adding he’s excited to return to Pennsylvania on Christmas morning with Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph leading his sleigh.

According to Santa, he knows when children are sleeping and when they’re awake. If Santa finds children awake, he moves on to other houses and only returns to deliver presents once everyone is slumbering peacefully.

When asked how he manages to travel around the world in one night, Santa said the answer lies within his reliable team of reindeer and the magic of Christmas spirit.

“The important thing isn’t how I get around the world, it’s that kindness and generosity travel faster than anything else,” Santa said.

Once he returns to the North Pole after Christmas, Santa said he reads thank you letters while eating cookies and sipping hot cocoa on his recliner chair.

Amy George takes her 11-month-old daughter, Scarlett George, from Santa after a photo at the Logan Valley Mall. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Santa said he and Mrs. Claus plan to celebrate a successful year by sharing a quiet moment together, knowing their hard work made a lot of people happy.

“Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas,” Santa shouted as he disappeared into the night sky on his sleigh.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.