Visiting Santa

The girls have been begging to visit Santa. This is really the first year they have asked...a lot! We had planned on going yesterday but Mckenna was under the weather, so we decided to go today after church. Apparently 1,000 other people made that decision. Despite the long line, it ended up being worth the wait.

I don't usually dress the kids up to see Santa, but since we were going after church and since Baileigh was singing with the choir this morning I decided to put them in their Christmas outfits. I had no idea how Brooke would react to Santa...she is confident if she keeps her distance but I thought she may freak out at the thought of sitting on his lap.

The long wait may have helped. The girls had a lot of time to watch Santa and let the excitement build!
When it was our turn all three marched up to Santa and gave him big hugs! I was shocked! Brooke didn't want to sit on his lap, but she hugged him and then stood and watched and even asked him to say "HO-HO-HO" (see video below).
Santa was awesome (and had his own hair and beard)! The line was long because he was very patient and slow with the children. He talked to them about things other then presents...about being kind, and how special it is to have sisters and how much they should cherish each other. I had heard about some malls in the area with more impressive "sets"...but I had watched this Santa a few times while I was in the mall this past month and was always impressed.
The girls wrote Santa letters each asking for one special thing. Mckenna asked for a gumball machine. Let me just say she is going to be one happy kid this Christmas!
Baileigh wrote her letter and asked essentially for an art kit. She didn't want a specific thing, just lots of paper, markers, crayons etc. I love the line she writes that says "P.S. I believe in you!"
Despite not being willing to sit on Santa's lap, Brooke stood and smiled for the picture.
Here is a quick video of Santa reading Baileigh and Mckenna's letters. In the midst of his conversation with them you can hear Brooke ask Santa to say "HO-HO-HO" and then give a huge smile when he responds to her.



Brad and I both got emotional watching the girls with Santa...sounds silly, I know, and we were both surprised. I think we just both envisioned the upcoming years and know that perhaps even next Christmas we may not have three girls so enthusiastic and excited about Santa!