First Annual Santa Success!

We went to our shopping center's Christmas Festival, and it was sort of a letdown because they didn't have any activities going on this year. Last year, they had a petting zoo, tons of craft stations, free Christmas bears, a train, etc. This year, there were two violinists wandering and just the pictures with Santa.

We parked right by Santa, and Addison watched him from the car. I even had talked with her about bringing her pig blanket with her, since she looked at the photo from two years ago and saw the blanket on her lap with Santa. She thought that sounded like a good idea, but when we got out of the car, she said she didn't need it if I would sit with her. I told her that was a great idea, and picked her up and walked quickly to the sleigh. She started clenching and burying her face in my coat, but I climbed onto the sleigh and sat down.

She hid her face and didn't want to look, at first, but then she raised her head to smile at Matt and the lady taking pictures, and slowly started to answer some questions I asked her: "What do you want Santa to bring you?" She mumbled into my coat, but I said she needed to sit up so Santa could hear her, and she sneaked glances at him, told him what she wanted, and hid again. She did manage to get out her list: A raccoon, a birdie, and a turtle for baby. And she said she had been good for Mommy and Daddy. And then we got some pictures! And no crying! Yay!! I was so proud of her!