ho ho ho

We just got back from seeing Santa. I'm not sure it was the best decision to go on December 21st at one of the most popular shopping venues in the city, but we didn't decide until just a couple of days ago to actually go, and we chose this particular Santa because on their website it says they allow you to take your own pictures without buying a huge, horribly overpriced package of a poor quality photo (we know....we did it last year, on a whim because we went to a mall back home that's now almost empty and we felt sorry for Santa, who had no one visiting him).

So we decided a few days ago, like I said, but I was sick, then my husband was sick, and today was the first day we could actually do it. We had decided to meet during his lunchtime on a week day, thinking it would better than trying to go on the last weekend before Christmas, when this shopping area would be packed. Me and my bright ideas.... I knew as soon as I had to wait in a huge line just to get into the parking garage that it was probably not a good idea, but we had gotten this far.... I found a parking place (no easy feat with my monster truck I have to drive), got everything unloaded and into the stroller, and made our way into the area where Santa was. The line was miles long, with millions of parents and dressed up children of various ages and temperaments, waiting for their turn with the man in red (okay, millions is probably not an accurate number, but there were lots, and lots were excited, lots were crying, and lots were dancing around pulling on their parents' hands). We saw Daddy make his way down the stairway to where we were, shaking his head at the scene before him. We got in line, but were seriously second guessing ourselves, especially when our little one started throwing a fit when I wouldn't let her get out of the stroller when I took her coat off. But we had gotten this far....

After awhile (and lots of cheerios for our little one, who had cheered up), we decided to take turns waiting in line while the other one took her around the mall to look around. This worked rather well, as she was very happy to run around and let off some steam. At one point she was up on the second level with Daddy and he was trying to point to me, to show her where I was. For awhile she couldn't see me, but all of a sudden the look of recognition flashed across her face as she smiled a huge grin, let out a very loud squeal, and waved and waved to me, like I was the biggest celebrity in the world. It was too cute.

As I got closer to the front of the line, I saw everyone with envelopes describing the packages you could buy (the cheapest being $20, which is outrageous, if you ask me), and though I did see a couple of people take a few pictures themselves, it was always when Santa's elves were also taking a picture, so I was doubting whether they would really allow us to take pictures without buying anything. There were several times I thought about getting out of line, afraid I would've waited in line all that time for nothing, because I did not want to spend $20 for a silly picture with Santa. But once again, we had made it this far....so I decided to stick it out.

As I neared the front, Daddy brought her back and she could finally actually see Santa from our place in line. She was very excited and waved and waved at him, saying "hu hu," which is her own version of "ho ho ho." She started getting impatient as we got closer because she could actually see him and wanted to go to him, so we passed the last few minutes by asking her animal sounds and body parts (Where's your head? Where are your feet? What does a lion say.... you get the idea). This kept her occupied well enough until it was finally our turn.

The elf asked us, "Do you know which package you'd like to purchase?" when we got up there. I said, "Online it says we can take our own pictures," to which she nodded and said, "Okay! Go ahead!" Hooray!!! So we approached Santa and our little one had a smile on her face, but I wasn't sure how long it would last, as she's sometimes a little leery of strangers for a few minutes (but not usually for long at all). But she went right up to him and said, "hu hu!" to which he answered, "Ho, ho, ho!" I put her on his lap, and though she wasn't quite sure she wanted to stay there, she did, and actually smiled at me when Santa pointed to me, after I went over by Daddy so he could take some pictures. Of course, she had to point to me too, so there's a lot of pointing in the pictures, but oh well!

Mission accomplished!