Magical time of dreams.

Byline: JAIME LYN REA The Register-Guard

SANTA EXPECTS to keep busy in coming weeks preparing fleets of firetrucks for all the tykes who sit on his lap and dream of becoming firefighters one day.

For the first time since he can remember, firetrucks and Rescue Heroes action figures are topping boys' Christmas lists, Santa said Sunday from his perch at Valley River Center.

St. Nick said he has little doubt of the reason: The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the East Coast have rekindled the image of firefighters as heroes.

But in the midst of such tragedy, children haven't ceased to delight in the mystery of Christmas. They continue to hope their wish lists will transform into gifts under the tree on Christmas morning if they are good.

Six-year-old Taysie Savage of Indiola is a believer in the magic of Christmas. She arrived to see Santa with a wish list written on a yellow sheet of paper and secured with a rubber band. The 11 items on her list were both practical and playful, ranging from a green bathrobe and slippers to "anything G.I. Joe."

"I told him about the bathrobe and slippers because I want them so bad," said Taysie, who explained that Santa can't pick everything on her list but will choose five to eight gifts for her.

As is often the case, Santa was a little intimidating to some of his youngest visitors Sunday, at one point setting off a round of crying down the line of waiting children.

"It spread like an epidemic," Santa said of the tears.

But other children, including 2 1/2 -year-old Kyra Siegel of Eugene, conquered their past fears.

"Last year she wanted to see Santa, but when she got up there she was scared," said Kyra's mother, Pamela Lehan-Siegel. "And then all year she said she wouldn't be scared."

Sunday's visit was a big success with plenty of talking from the blond, pigtailed Kyra, who asked Santa for a Barbie doll and a Barney toy.

"As it has been forever," the first desire of many a girl's heart is to have a Barbie doll, Santa said.

But the wish lists of many other children aren't as traditional as dolls and bikes. Santa said it's a full-time job to learn about the newest toys children want, including techno dogs and cats and talking robots.

"I spend a lot of time in Toys R Us," he said.

CAPTION(S):

Taysie Savage, 6, of Indiola, reviews her Christmas list with St. Nick at Valley River Center on Sunday. Santa Claus said he has taken numerous requests this year for world peace.