By Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sunday was 9-year-old Ryan Carter's first-ever meeting with Santa Claus, and he and his friends were ecstatic when they got off the 6-foot-10-inch man's lap.

"We got to sit on his lap and take pictures and stuff," the Pendleton resident proclaimed after receiving his wrapped package. "But I know who he is: He's Mr. Bubbles."

Indeed, "Santa" was Marvin Butts, owner of Mr. Bubbles Complete Car Detailing in Pendleton. He helped pass out toys, CDs, books, interactive software, candy and other gifts to more than 150 area children who passed through his garage Sunday.

The event was sponsored by Cincinnati Police Department, Pendleton Community Council and the Civic Garden Center. Discovery Toys, a Livermore, Calif., company, donated "close to $10,000 worth" of gifts after a convention here this summer, Sgt. Steve Saunders said.

The rest of the toys were distributed to about 300 children in the West End and at the old St. Mary's Church in Over-the-Rhine this month.

"(Discovery Toys) asked us to pass them on to kids who could use them," Sgt. Saunders said. "This is our first year here, but I think it's a tradition we'll want to keep up."

The children, who signed up to participate in Sunday's program, also got their picture taken with Mrs. Claus and Santa, who spent most of the afternoon stretched out in a large chair. Many of the kids refused to open their packages, saying they plan to open them Christmas Day.

"Most of the kids had never met Santa, so seeing me firsthand was something different for them," he said. "But I'd do anything for the kids."

E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com