Waiting for Santa

We were off to take our Santa picture last week and this was my first time taking the kids alone. When it was just HC, she and I saw Santa without any help but once JB joined us we needed Dad to help distract JB. HC has always been fine with Santa. No tears! No fretting! Just smiled without reservation. My sweet JB was less than thrilled with the Santa factor on his first two meetings and I was so glad that Dad came along.

This year I decided to try the Santa factor alone. My husband is super busy at work and it would really be difficult for him to get away. So we were off. We hustled into the mall hoping the line had dwindled down from the morning line and that our wait would be minimal. HC was under strict orders to NOT mention where we were headed, in case the news sent JB into fits of unwanted resistance. We arrived at the mall and we saw Santa set up in a new area. The line was short and HC had just hit her head on a rear view mirror, while we were walking through the parking lot, so she lost her zeal to walk fast. I was rushing to get in the line before a preschool arrived or worse, they closed down for Santa to have lunch. I get there to find that Santa had breakfast with the special needs kids and he was only taking pictures with those children for now.
We decided to have lunch and ran into friends. After eating lunch, and two runs to the potty, we waited in line for Santa's appearance. We were 1st in line! WooHoo!!! Only problem is we now have an hour to spend in line. The kids were full and playful. We could make it! Plus there was NO way I could get HC to leave without a meltdown. So we waited. A few others joined us in line and the wait became a little more fun! About 10 minutes till Santa's arrival I notice the undeniable signs of a newly potty trained toddler having the urge to go!! I thought 'NO WAY am I getting out of line to go potty!' So I said aloud (to myself) "I'll just get a diaper for you buddy." Ok, sure it SOUNDED like I was talking to JB but I wasn't. So, I reach into the diaper bag and turn to get JB ready for his diaper and I found him with his pants AND underwear around his ankles waiting for me. OH MY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I quickly open the stubborn diaper and try to hide him in the process, but anyone in line was bound to have seen my son in all his glory that day!! Thank you for listening to me the first time this time JB!! If he only listened the first time when I really need him to!!

Santa arrived and I held my breath waiting for JB to respond. At the 10 minutes from arrival point, I began telling JB that he would see Santa soon! I told JB that he would take a picture with Santa and sit on his lap. JB said "I not sit on Santa's lap." I said "OK, you can sit on Mommy's lap and sit beside Santa." He agreed. Santa arrived, finally! HC and JB jumped, screamed and rejoiced with all of the other waiting children! I was elated!! My son was NOT in tears and Santa even gave JB a high five when he passed us!!

We had fun and we created memories for sure this Christmas! Here - see for yourself!

After waiting 50 minutes, the enthusiasm and the will to entertain themselves had passed.

The entry to Santa's world.Posing for Mommy, while we waited, because bloggy Mommies require this!Peeking at Santa with the strangers in line. Don't know the Mom or boy in the photo. This was the best I could take when Santa arrived. I missed catching my babies but you can sort of see the joy. Every picture I took had this sweet boy blocking one or both of my babies! Oh well. Trust me to say they were thrilled!! They were so busy jumping and spinning that most pictures were like this - pieces of them!The end result!! Our first picture JB took with Santa without tears!!! If you look carefully, you can see my sweatshirt behind JB's head and my jeans beneath him. Santa only had his arm around my little guy! :)

The end result was great!! JB took a precious photo and HC was elated!!! Santa asked HC what she wanted for Christmas and HC said "I want a purple baby with a purple pacifier." Santa turned to JB and asked the same. JB clung to me for dear life and said "NO! No, I don't want Santa." So I stood up and let Santa ask him from afar. JB did not answer Santa, so this wise man asked "Do you want toys for Christmas JB?" JB smiled and said "Yes, toys." We had a successful event! HC was upset that we left without her purple baby. That took a little explaining! :) I felt like I had been through a marathon, but it ended well!

(I won't even complain that the workers arrived at the very same moment Santa arrived and took another 15 minutes before we were able to see Santa officially. I won't even mention how dumb that was! Aren't I nice?? If I wait 1 hour with 2 little ones, another 15 minutes IS a big deal! That's it! I'm done! Merry Christmas to all, even to the "elves" who made us wait.)

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