Visits with Santa

We are completely enjoying the last few days before Christmas here, including a trip to see Santa. Hope everyone is having a warm, happy, December.

It's Santa!

First Year with no tears & all the kids made it onto Santa's lap. Hooray! Baby {J} wasn't "thrilled", but we'll blame that on just being woken from a nice comfy nap and dropped onto a strange man with a giant white beard and silly hat's, lap.

Gifts asked for this year: a sword, magic, & a guitar, or kids computer... Baby {J} just wanted to go back to sleep.

Ho HO HO

So, it turns out that Little L is horrified of Santa this year! We went to our local, annual tree lighting. [We have been going for six years now, it's amazing. Tree's, music, lights & fireworks!]. The whole day, {L} was chattering on about Ho-Ho [Santa]. He was chuckling, giggling and running around with excitement. Fast Forward to that night-we arrived late, almost missing the lighting. Mama is stressed [doesn't anyone understand how important this was! lol] Turns out due to "our" [read-husband] lateness we scored a PRIME spot right at the base of the stage. Things are looking up and stressed mama switches to excited again Mama! Thinks, this is going to be amazing! Super close so all the kids can actually see this year. The parade is ending, the crowd is cheering, here comes Santa, he's making his way towards us! I know any moment {L} will be squealing in delight! He's in sight!...and {L} is.... SCREAMING? Screaming and clawing at his Dad like we are trying to feed him to Santa. One morsel at a time! Screaming like his skin is n fire!

I was so confused.... Turns out, the ol' Shrek Christmas movie he's been watching has a scene where Santa, roaring like a jolly Godzilla, eats The Gingerbread Man's girlfriend-all up. This 2 minute scene, have terrified my baby. Looks like this picture is as close to Santa as he will be getting this year! Oh Shrek.

A Visit with Santa

The kids were off to the mall last night for a visit with Santa! The older kids could barely contain their excitement all day!! After our trip to see the Easter Bunny last Spring, I wasn't so sure how {L} would be. Needless to say, Santa is just as scary as the Easter Bunny was!

Mr. {D} asked for the Edward doll from Twilight, and Little Miss {M} wants a fairy princess doll. The baby just wanted off Santa's lap more than anything else!

It's funny how crazy I used to stress about getting nice pictures when the older two kids were little. I didn't want them to cry, they needed to smile and everything perfect. With the addition of our third child, things sure have changed! Now, I enjoy the experience more without the stress. Yes, I still want a nice photo. but I also see the fun in silly pictures, crying pictures [see our Easter post!] and just candid sincere moments. It feels great to not be worrying about the silly things and just be!