Visiting Santa

For the second year in a row, we have opted to visit Santa at the American Legion in town on a Sunday morning before breakfast.  We try to go for breakfast there about once every six weeks or so (they serve a decent and quick breakfast for a very reasonable price) and the kids like being able to have a casual chat with the Big Guy before they eat.  And let's face it, I enjoy the casualness of it myself.  No standing in line, all the pictures that I want and if the kids want to run back before we leave to give Santa one last hug, no one minds one bit.

James, waiting for everyone else to get ready to go:

Jack jumped right up on Santa's lap and asked for some trucks for Christmas:

Sophia asked for a pair of Sketchers tennis shoes like her sister got for her birthday:

Samantha asked for a Flip-A-Zoo stuffed animal -- the giraffe one!

And then ... there was Mr. Snotty Pants.  My normally smiling, laughing, happy little man was NOT having this.  He held back the tears, but from the look on his face, it was clear that he was not excited to be sitting on Mrs. Claus' lap.  Not one bit.

Santa tried to win him over with a candy cane, but he was still a bit apprehensive.

It's hard to believe that one year ago, he was still in my belly:

And the group photo with Jimmy anxiously trying to squirm away from Mrs. Claus: