A Visit With Santa

Procrastination should be my middle name - that being said we went yesterday to see Santa. Santa was expected at the mall from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. so we thought that we would try to get there early. We got up - got the kids dressed in beautiful Christmas outfits - made sure they had a meal just before we left and were right on schedule to be at the mall before 10:30. We pull into the mall parking lot and the next thing I know my son - all decked out in dress pants, white shirt, vest & tie - is producing his rendition of a geyser. Poor little guy got sick all over himself. I pulled into an empty area of the parking lot and try to clean as much of the lake he created in his car seat as possible and prepare to drive home for the requisite bath and nap after such an episode. As sympathetic as Savannah was for Christopher being sick she was very sad that the anticipation of her visit with Santa would be delayed until after naps. Listening to her pitiful whimpering because "Mommy, I'm sad," was just about my undoing.


We got home and I put Christopher, clothes and all, into the tub. Cleaned him up and put him down for a nap. After naps all around and a quick dinner we made another attempt. This time at 6:00 p.m. - I'm sure that this must be the worst time to go to the mall on a Friday night before Christmas and I'm not looking forward to the whining and fussing that I'm sure will ensue - and I'm not talking about the kids. :-)


What a pleasant surprise - Christopher took a second nap in the car on the way there so Savannah and I went in to brave the line for Santa while Lakin and Christopher stayed in the car to allow Christopher to nap for as long as possible. The line was not nearly as long as I feared and the people in line were pleasant. The end result, as you can see was a beautiful thing - I'm so proud of my little girl who is growing up and realizing that she doesn't have to be shy.

Ho Ho Ho!