It turns out that there were so many people out today that by the time we got through Breanna’s nap and got out of here, the shopping center was packed enough that it took us 20 minutes just to drive into the parking lot, change our minds, and drive back out. Seriously. We’ll go one morning this week, either tomorrow or Tuesday and get the stuff we need to get for the kids. Luckily, there is another place close to home that isn’t as crazy as the shopping centers are, and we were able to go there for Santa pictures. There was a grand total of one little girl ahead of us so that was fast and easy.

Hayley was really excited and happy to see Santa, but she was also really shy about the whole thing. She was happy to sit and smile though.

At first she was disappointed because she realized after the fact that she had forgotten to tell him what she wanted, but I reminded her that we had sent him a letter (and she got one back from him too) so he already had her gift on his list, so that made her happy. She was also thrilled to get a handful of little candy canes from him.

And Breanna… well. There’s always next year for her to appreciate the joys of Santa Claus. Because it certainly wasn’t this year.

What’s that? You’re laughing at Breanna’s picture and you feel terrible about it? Well don’t worry. I laugh every time I look at it. Just like I laugh at Hayley’s picture from the year that she was 15 months.

I don’t know, maybe it makes me a bad parent, but when I look at these pictures of my screaming children with Santa, I actually feel more sorry for SANTA than I do for the kids.

Ho ho ho!