I can't believe how great the girls' Santa pic came out this year! They both actually smiled at the same time and there was absolutely no stranger danger. They were a little unsure at first but not a tear was shed!! I'm so proud of my big girls!



The experience was a nightmare though. James went early to pull a number (because that's how this Santa rolls) and he was lucky enough to pull #6!! Just to give you an idea, by the time we were in line with the first group to go, at 11 when Santa started seeing kids, they were on #180+. Those people wouldn't be seen until LATE afternoon, nearing dinner time. We got there early and saw the trains before heading back to hear Santa tell a story. Then, we were called to line up at right around 11:00 am. Apparently they were having some technical difficulties so we stood ... and stood ... and stood some more with two very squirmy little girls. Once the "tech difficulties" were resolved a group of special needs children was allowed to cut in front of us. I did not have a problem with that but it just meant we had to stand there some more. Emily is still a morning napper and she was without said morning nap. And it was 11:45 by then. She was such a trooper though and we were lucky James pulled #6 since we were finally done with our Santa pics by noon. By then, it was time for lunch and a little shopping!! It's a great new family tradition ... 2 years in a row ... I call that a tradition!