According to Jim Recap: Stalking Santa
Even when Jim tries to do something right, like take the kids to the mall to get their picture taken with Santa, he gets in trouble. In this case, Cheryl is busy singing Christmas carols as Jim is trying to find a parking place. Some moron pulls into their spot, and Cheryl tries to get Jim to just keep going. As Jim finally agrees to do so, the guy pulls out, right into their minivan. She can barely contain him.
The guy (Bruce Jarchow) apologizes, and offers his insurance information, then rushes off with a quick holiday greeting, so Cheryl gets Jim to head into the mall, against his better wishes. When they get home, they find out that the insurance information is bogus (who has their insurance information memorized, anyway?), and that sets Jim off again.
When he and Andy go to the mall to take the kids to see Santa, Jim recognizes that voice - Santa is the guy from the parking lot! Before you know it, Jim is in a brawl with not only Santa, but a candy-cane wielding elf (Tim Kazurinsky) and the kids are in tears because they think Santa is going to be mad at them because of what happened.
After a lecture, Jim heads back to the mall to make up with Santa in front of the kids and... he gets in another brawl. So on Christmas Eve, he goes out looking for a Santa suit and he can't find one. He hides out in the guy's car and ends up giving him his check back ($500!) in exchange for the suit - who said Jim isn't a good dad? He gets into the suit, gets home and - the kids are all out. But Kyle wakes up and they have a good talk, and best of all, Cheryl gets to see it. Problems solved.
