Santa!

I was forced to visit Santa at Christmas.  I loathed having my picture taken and was terrified of strangers and/or people in costume.  This also held true for a trip to Disneyland when I was nine.  Anyhow, I love the story that the Santa pictures of my childhood tell.

1979     "Charlotte is 8 weeks old and has no idea of anything."
1980     "Charlotte is terrified."
1981     "Charlotte is conspicuously missing from the picture but her two sisters are happily smiling with Santa."
1982      The best by far. "Charlotte still has her 1970s wool plaid coat on and is being held like a rag doll by her father and is making a terrible face, but is IN the picture."

Sometimes traditions need to be carried on.  Santa pictures is one of them.   Here is the story this year tells,
   "Once upon there were three children, who despite some serious naughtiness the past day, were probably still on the nice list.  The oldest, a boy of 8, knows mall Santa to be a fake.  He is willing to go along because he understands that if he doesn't there will be no screen time all weekend.  He still believes in the REAL santa.  He asked Santa for a Nintendo 3DS.  not gonna happen
    The middle was a girl of 6. She refuses to let her stringy hair be pulled back.  She has recently lost 5 teeth and looks not too unlike a jack-o-lantern.  She still believes in Santa, but has started to question the logistics of mall Santa.  She asked Santa for a giant teddy bear (like they have a Costco) any gifting of a giant stuffed animals will result in a permanent banning from the house
    The youngest is a boy of 3.  He is so excited about Santa and Christmas and everything Christmas related.  He isn't scared this year.  He asked Santa for a stick and a blue birdie.  we can make this happen
    Despite at least 7 shots, in not one are all three looking at the camera.  They do not know how to look at a camera.  I told them to all say, 'Starbucks' and that got them pretty close.  Starbucks was had by all after photos."

I like this particular photographer.  Does the background look familiar?  It's the same one used by Frederick and Nelson back in the day.  It adds just the right amount of retro.  The only thing missing was the mint Frangos.

Later in the weekend we met up with our PEPs group.  I love our PEPs group and getting together only once or twice a year is just not nearly enough.  The kids played and decorated gingerbread houses.  Robin slept through the Seahawks game -- given how the game went it was probably a good choice.

I can now cross visit Santa off the list.  I still have more cookies to bake, Christmas menus to plan, and a couple holiday parties to attend.