The Santa Claus Misadventures

Neither the Montoya (1), Holly (4), nor Bowers (7) child was 1^st on Santa’s lap, so either the Donner or Snow child was. Alexis isn’t the Donner or Snow child (8), so she didn’t go first. By clue 1, then, Alexis was the 2^nd or 3^rd child to talk to Mr. Claus. If Alexis had been 2^nd to go, then the Montoya child (1) would have gone 3^rd or later, as would have the Holly child in clue 4. Since Alexis isn’t the Donner or Snow toddler (8), she would be Alexis Bowers. Then the child who pulled on the jolly elf’s beard would have been the 1^st one on Santa’s lap (7) and would be the Donner or Snow child – no (2). So, Alexis was the 3^rd of the five children to sit on Santa Claus’s lap. By clue 1, the Montoya child went 4^th and the toddler who tripped an fell over Santa’s boots was 5^th. If Alexis were the Bowers child, by clue 4, the Holly child would have been last to visit Santa, and the child who pulled Santa’s beard would have been either the Donner or Snow child (7) – no (2). So, since Alexis isn’t the Bowers child and isn’t the Donner or Snow toddler (8), Alexis is the Holly child. By clue 4, then, Christy was 2^nd on St. Nick’s knee and the child who stood 3 ft. away was 1^st to go up to Santa’s chair. By clue 7, the Montoya child pulled on Santa’s beard, and the Bowers child tripped leaving Santa. Steven is the Montoya child (3). Jonathan stood 3 ft. away from Santa before being coaxed to approach (6). By elimination, Danny is the Bowers child. Christy didn’t cry on Santa’s lap (9); Alexis did, and Christy refused to get off Santa’s knee. By clue 5, Jonathan is the Snow and Christy the Donner toddler. The five misadventures with Santa Claus occurred in order 1^st to 5^th as follows:

• Jonathan Snow, stood 3ft. away
• Christy Donner, wouldn’t get off Santa’s lap
• Alexis Holly, cried the whole time
• Steven Montoya, pulled Santa’s beard
• Danny Bowers, tripped over Santa Claus’s boots

Please me.

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