Santa Baby!

On Tuesday we took the Girl and Baby Sister to see Santa. We were hoping that since Christmas was just two days away that the majority of people would've already been to visit him. However, this was not the case as we arrived to see a long, winding line. So we took our place and while doing so, J quietly commented to me that he was not going to be a happy camper if he had to wait in line only to have our turn come and the Girl refuse to talk or even glance at Santa let alone sit on his lap and do so long enough to get her picture taken. The Girl overheard him and cheerily chimed in, "But I like Santa." Hmmm, past years would prove otherwise. Both last year and the year prior just the site of Santa was enough to reduce her to tears and getting her picture taken with him brought her to the brink of hysteria. Last year it was a family picture and the year before I was in Santa's sleigh with her. Her first Christmas though she just looked straight at the camera and seemed quite content to be cradled in the crook of Santa's arm. And so as we creeped steadily toward the front of the line, J and I took to coaching a bit. We would distract her whenever there was a kiddo who didn't want to be near Santa and we would enthusiastically point to all of the ones who seemed to be enjoying their time with the big fella. After a half hour in line, the moment had arrived and it was our turn. The Girl approached Santa cautiously but she didn't object to sitting on his lap, she looked at the camera and smiled and when Santa asked her what she wanted for Christmas she even answered him. It was just one word - "camera." I was completely shocked, an outcome better than I had even wished for. I was just hoping for a photo without tears! As for Baby Sister, she seemed pretty indifferent, although she did have a huge grin for J when he retrieved her from Santa.