The mall Santa is one of those ridiculous things that you just kind of have to do every year. (I guess I feel the same way about Beaujolais Nouveau at Thanksgiving, LOL). But yeah, the boys were super excited about going to see Santa, and how can you possibly resist two cute little guys like that? Jake was all about Santa this year. He ran right up, chattered away about what he would like (arts & crafts being his first request, with Legos and Transformers coming up close). Noah thought Santa was great until we got near him. That’s when the screaming began. I just think it’s mean to make a screaming child go and sit on Santa’s lap for the sake of a photo (Sorry! I know some people think it’s funny, but it kind of breaks my heart). So Noah hung back with us while Jake chattered on. Santa then gave Jake crayons and a little activity book, and one for Noah as well. As soon as Noah saw the crayons, he suddenly lost all fear and ran right over. He even climbed up on Santa’s lap and talked a little and smiled for a photo! Craziness! And then that’s all he could talk about for the rest of the afternoon.
Those are great photos. Yeah, I would *never* make our children sit on Santa’s lap if they didn’t want to … oh my gosh, hearing a child scream would break my heart, too! Luke and Meri are going to see Santa on Wednesday at our friend Natalie’s office. That should be lots of fun!
Aw, great photos!
I’m with you on the screaming/crying child thing. Someone once said to me that they think it’s something that every parent has the right to own – a crying child & Santa photo. Um… no, gotta disagree there.
Aww … the photos are so cute! Glad Noah decided Santa was OK. I still need to take Tabs down to the mall to have her first Santa photo op. Mall. Christmas. Shoot. Me.
I was terrified of Santa, so I’m in the “don’t make the kid do it” camp.
I can’t get over how much Noah looks like you.
Yeah, Christmas is great and all but I think you’ve gotta ask yourself whether you’re doing something (i.e. having screaming children with Santa photos) for the kid or for yourself, and if it’s the latter, well, I think there are other ways to make holiday memories. We had a Santa photo opp for the Bug at her school carnival, and our solution was that *I* was in the picture with Santa too. She wanted to see him, but didn’t want to sit with him alone (can’t blame her), so we have a picture where everyone is smiling. 🙂
Ohhh such cute photos… and I hate it too when the little ones freak out with santa…