Visiting Santa, 2008

Today we took a family trip to the mall to knock out 3 things on our list of traditions ... you know, the ones that I feel obligated to do every year, because they're tradition.

1.Visit Santa.
2. Let each child pick out an ornament for the tree.
3. Let the kids "secretly" buy mommy a gift with daddy's help.

Number 3 has to be included during this particular visit to the mall, because it is the one and only time daddy will step foot in a mall during the Christmas season. Or the year, for that matter.

Our first stop was to see the Big Guy himself. St. Nick. Santa Claus. "Ho! Ho!" (as Jack calls him). We approached the Macy's wing of the mall, and what to our wondering eyes should appear? No line! Not a single soul waiting to see Santa! Surely this was our lucky night. Perfect timing! Mark and I smiled and gave each other a thumbs-up as we weaved the kids around the velvet maze that should have contained a throng of sweaty, crying kids and parents. We took off the kids' coats, pushed them forward, and said, "Go see Santa!"

Jenna obliged, sat on his lap, and began reminding him that she had visited him a week earlier with her class from school. She was earnestly trying to tell Santa what it was that she wanted for Christmas (a swimming baby and Hannah Montana guitar) but alas, Santa was distracted by the shreiking and wailing of our other two children. Santa suggested that maybe we come back another time, when they were feeling more comfortable. Mark and I nervously glanced around, and noticed another family in "line". We decided to remove our hollering children and let them go ahead of us. But no way were we going to leave this golden opportunity to see Santa with no lines involved.

We sat on the benches nearby, waving to Santa, saying nice things about him, reminding our two youngest children of the powers he has and his ability to make their dreams come true. Neither of them were having it.

When the family ahead of us left Santa's lap, Mark and I picked up the two terrified toddlers and headed back to the non-existent line. Once again, Jenna ran right up and started telling Santa how she brought her list. He suggested that she put it in his mailbox marked "North Pole" along with her brother's and sister's lists. She obliged. Jack and Kara held on to mommy and daddy for dear life.

Enough was enough. We were getting this picture taken with Santa one way or another. It was tradition. We were here. And we were determined to get it done.

In the end, we won! We got all three kids to sit in Santa's big chair, and not a tear was being shed. See for yourself ...

(okay, so we had to actually sit in the photo with the kids ... but they got their picture taken with Santa, so we still won, right?!!)