So, Jason and I took the girls to see Santa early this year. We went before Thanksgiving, which always seems to be a no-no in my book. I like celebrating one holiday at a time and none before another holiday is over. This year, however, I thought it would be good to get it out of the way, get that picture for the special calendars we make for the grandparents and not have to worry. Well, it was a good thing we did it because December went by way to fast and most of it, I felt like I was sick and then slowly recovering from being sick. So, it goes like this. I got an email that Santa was going to be at the mall at 9 am on his first day (the 19th of Nov). Perfect, I thought! There won't be a line because the mall doesn't open until 10 am, we can get there before the crowds and rush, right? Well, we got the girls there at 9:15, promised them doughnuts if they were good and took a picture with Santa, but no Santa was to be found. The sign said he was going to be there at 10:00am. WHAT??? I promised Jason he was supposed to be there at 9. So, we ventured to the only open store (Target), got the girls milk and doughnuts and headed back to stand in line to see Santa at 10. We were the first ones in line, also, by the way......BONUS, you say??? Nope, to that in a second! So, we are sitting there eating our breakfast, when who should appear, but Mrs. Claus. We talked with her and learned that Santa had been at the food court since 9 am, you can almost see me look at Jason here and be like, "See, I wasn't losing my mind!" By this time it was about 9:55 and one of his elves, who's running the show runs to see how much longer he's going to be, she comes back to tell us another 15 minutes and then runs to Target to get crayons for the coloring books he's going to hand out (which at this time, we already have 2 that the girls are thumbing through). All of my ideas to get Landree to take a picture with Santa, start to fade. (doughnuts, something special from Santa......ahhhhh)! Finally, Santa comes walking from the food court! Ryleigh runs up to him, hugs him and won't give him one minute to get to his chair. Landree runs the opposite way when she sees him and starts crying! By this time, there is a line starting to form. The Elf running the show, still isn't back from Target with crayons. The other elf, doesn't know what she's doing. All I want is a picture with the 3 of them with Santa after Ryleigh tells him what she wants. Elf #2 tries to take a few photos (all of which have Landree screaming, Ryleigh smiling and Reese just sitting on his lap doing nothing). What do you know, the camera isn't working. Elf #1 finally gets back, works on the camera. In the meantime, people have been waiting to see Santa for almost 40 minutes now, and my daughter is hogging his lap. ALL I WANT IS A PICTURE! So, I go get my camera (a no-no) and start snapping photos, trying to get Landree in the picture. Finally elf #1 gets the camera fixed, but they lost all of the photos taken, so we get to try again. This time, we get Landree next to Santa, a bit of a grin, but still acting deathly afraid of the man in the big red suit. We get a couple of photos. So, I learned my lessen. DON'T go to see Santa on his first day. He's late, the camera doesn't work, the computer to pay for the pictures doesn't work, the list goes on. The only good thing out of the whole chaotic mess, elf #2 told us there was a coupon for $3 off a package. She messed up though, there was no coupon. Jason stayed to pay while I went to feed a fussy Reese in the car. They gave him the $3 off the package, I think to just get rid of us, since we had been there since 9:15 and it was now 10:45! I think the picture turned out pretty good, despite the above mess! You can definitely tell, who LOVES Santa, who is afraid of him and who could really care less!! And, the funniest thing. All of December, when we'd tell the girls to be good and that Santa was watching, Landree would cry, "me no like Santa!" Finally one night we had a little heart to heart while she was crying in bed. L: "Is Santa in the house?" Me: "no", L: "but Santa watching?", Me: "yes", L: "me no like Santa". Me: ":why not, he brings good little girls toys on Christmas Eve!" L: " is he outside the window", Me: "no" (I had to open the blinds for her and show her the neighborhood to make sure Santa wasn't looking in). Finally on Christmas day, after Santa came, she says, "I like Santa!" Silly girl!
This one I got the lighting just right to capture her beautiful eyes. Here they look blue, but at times Jason and I see a green tint to them:
This one I got the lighting just right to capture her beautiful eyes. Here they look blue, but at times Jason and I see a green tint to them:
