Isabelle Blackwood, 6, unfurls her Christmas list for Santa Claus at the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department's Breakfast with Santa. Lawrence youths met with St. Nick to share their wish lists for the upcoming holiday season. Its all about the holiday season and the Christmas season. Its

It’s moments like these that Ron Lang cherishes.

As his granddaughter, Angel, 7, and other children sat coloring holiday masterpieces on the floor during Saturday’s Breakfast with Santa, Lang became sentimental.

“We’re just sitting here in a support group, while the children enjoy the experience,” Lang said, with a nod to his friend, Kent Dunn, whose children were also coloring. “These are priceless moments.”

The pancake breakfast, which offered children an opportunity to dangle gift ideas in front of Santa Claus, was organized by the Parks Department and held at the Community Building, 115 W. 11th St.

Duane Peterson, special events supervisor, said he expected the event to raise between $1,500 and $2,000 for the department’s operating budget; he said about 200 people attended the event, now in its second year.

“It’s all about the holiday season and the Christmas season,” Peterson said. “It’s all about bringing families together.”

The lure of Santa was the main draw for children, who also created holiday art and had their faces painted.

Brittany Ediger, 9, said she asked Santa for a laptop computer. Her brother, Bryan, 6, said he asked for a mini dirt bike and helmet.

Their mother, Sherri, said Brittany and Bryan, whose faces were adorned with snowmen, could hardly contain their excitement as they entered the building.

“They were flipping out when they were coming downstairs,” she said. In their rush to tell Santa their Christmas wishes, they didn’t even finish their pancakes.

Peterson said the event was one of several winter activities the Parks Department is planning. Holiday Happenings, which will be Dec. 26 to 28, is a recreation program for local children on winter break. It includes arts and crafts, sports and field trips. The department is also hosting a New Year’s Eve slumber party at the Holcom Park Recreation Center for children ages 5 to 12.

Lang, whose granddaughter asked Santa for an iPod, said it was amazing how simple things like face painting and meeting Santa could elicit such excitement from children. He said this year’s Breakfast with Santa compared well with last year’s, which he also attended.

“The enthusiasm seems as intense as last year,” he said.