Coordinating a day to visit the Big Guy has been much harder than in years past. I feel like Christmas completely snuck up on me this year and I definitely don’t have it all together. My house is *barely* decorated, there are still numerous presents en route to the Rockin’ House and I still have so many things to accomplish before next week.
After comparing schedules and debating Santa locations, we finally got it all together after church last Sunday. We always visit the same setup at a mall about 30 minutes from home. Santa sings and the pictures are always beautiful, if not a little overpriced. I know we can do the whole Bass Pro Shop for free, but I’m going to be honest here, okay? I don’t love the whole woodsy scene. The lighting is always bad and I really regretted taking Sophie there for her first Christmas. This year, a friend told me about a photo opportunity at a local gift shop. Not only is it free to see Santa, but you take your own photographs, you don’t have to have an appointment and because those girls are nothing if not creative, the background is absolutely stunning! Since we were having pictures made in our Christmas pajamas this year, I knew Ella was less likely to put up a fight if I wasn’t making her cool, 8 year old self navigate the mall in long johns!
Since Kamin is clearly the photographer in the family, she brought along her camera and took these pictures of the kids. I have never been happier with a Santa sighting than this. There weren’t too many people in line and we got plenty of time to talk to him and tell him all about our wishes for Christmas. My girls are no longer teary-eyed at the thought of this moment <insert sad mama face here> but Hudson more than made up for it! He was so excited while we waited and offered plenty of waves and happy squeals, but those quickly evaporated when his daddy added him to Santa’s already full lap.
My girls have been pretty consistent with their wishlists this Christmas {thank goodness} and that day was no exception. Ella is asking for a Kindle and The Magic Treehouse / Jack & Annie books. All Sophie has mentioned is a “stuffed unicorn with one button that will grant your every wish and another button that will play you any song you like”. Take that, Santa!
And in the spirit of Flashback Friday, you can see Santa pictures {and plenty of tears} from years past, using the links below:
