After talking to the staff at various Williams-Sonoma stores, some of whom dissuaded me from trying to bake it again, I steeled myself for one final attempt at making the Build-A-Bear Workshop Santa bear cake. On the morning of December 23, the day before our annual Christmas Eve party, I set out the ingredients, pre-heated the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit, greased and floured the cake mold, and prayed to the baking gods that this time I would get it right. (For an accounting of preceding Santa bear cake disasters, read the previous entry, “Trials of Holiday Baking.”) In spite of past tribulations, things went fairly well. No molten batter oozing over the edge of the pan. No decapitations. No suicidal falls. Only a slight neck fracture that I braced with frosting. So far, so good. After the cake had cooled and I had consumed both dinner and stiff drink, I prepared to decorate. Since Sean was the driving force behind this holiday treat, he was given the chance of the season – to aid in outfit application. Little did he know that this exciting opportunity would last until one in the morning. Ah, Christmas …