Ho Ho Ho Whaddya Want!

We almost decided not to visit Santa again this year based on how the two previous years went, but Alannah kept saying she wanted to see him so we gave it another try.  I got her pumped up for a couple weeks prior and she seemed very excited.  She kept telling me “I’m not gonna cry, I’m a big girl now!”.  We pretended to be Santa so she could practice.  According to Alannah, Santa says, “Ho ho ho whaddya want?!” when you sit on his lap.

  So the morning of, I was getting her ready and a little while before we left, she tells me that Santa is not at his house today because he had to go to the doctor and get a shot.  I assured her that he was there.  On the way there she kept saying she wanted to go to Target or Costco (yes, she knows those stores by name) and not the mall.  We told her we would go shopping after Santa and she could ride the choo choo after she sat on Santa’s lap.  She finally caved.  She was fine in line until we got up to the door and saw him sitting there.  Then I got the death grip and she was clinging to me like no other.  As we walked in, Santa started talking to her and she freaked out! We finally calmed her down and Santa gave her a lollipop to assure her that he really is a nice guy and not some weirdo dressed in a red suit.  She talked to him and told him what she wants for Christmas (a scooter and a baby doll) but would NOT sit on his lap.  There was no way that was happening so the poor ladies (and Santa) who have to deal with difficult children all day, came up with a solution.  Daddy knelt next to Santa’s chair and Alannah sat on Daddy’s knee with Santa behind her.  She kept turning around to make sure Santa was not getting to close to her.  She’s a cautious girl just like her Mama :) You can see Josh’s hands and a little girl looking in the window in the background but at least we got a smiling one this year!