Site Title

We go every year to the mall to sit on Santa's lap and get a picture taken.  We moved here in 2000, just in time for the new mall to open (August 3, 2000…Derek thinks I'm weird for remembering).  That Christmas Jacob was 15 months and we took him to see Santa.  That SAME Santa has been coming back for all of these years.  So I love seeing the side-by-side comparison every year of the kids. 

On Thursday night after taekwondo, we met Derek in Allen for dinner at Uncle Julio's.  Before D arrived we were driving the parking lot of a new shopping area to check it out.  I saw a group of people waiting in line by a humgongous Christmas tree, so I ran up to see what all of the hub-bub was about.  It was a line to see Santa!  I peek in to see the Santa, and lo and behold it is OUR SANTA.  The one we've seen every year for 8 years!  He had moved (probably got a better offer).  It was kismet.  I honestly had no idea he wasn't at the mall anymore.  And we were planning on doing the Santa thing on Fri night. 

So Friday night, we made the kids dress in nice shirts (you would have thought I was making them run the gauntlet or walk the plank, with all of the complaining about the clothes!).  And we went to see OUR Santa.  Samuel has learned to say "ho-ho-ho" (video forthcoming), which he demonstrated for Mr. C.  Such a sweet and attentive Santa…we love him.  I told him our story and said "we'll follow you anywhere!".  Plus, there were real live reindeer!  We have funny stories about the "reindeer man" (the keeper) because I stood and had a 20 minute conversation about reindeer raising with him.  It's quite lucrative, but they can die in our Texas heat without misters, a/c, and fans!  Who knew?! 🙂

Samuel is smiling, in case you wondered.  He's in to doing the BIG "cheese" right now!  Doesn't Jacob look JUST like Derek in that picture?

This tree was HUGE and gorgeous.  The lights changed colors every few seconds.

Sweet baby!

Meet Blitzen (and Donner, in the corner).

Hugs for Santa.

Fun times!  Afterwards we went out to eat (the kids later had food poisoning…lovely).  And drove to see some Christmas lights…Honey, this is what I want for our house next year! 🙂