Last night, in preparation for the big day, we watched Avery's 2 Santa visits on DVD. She could see how Santa looked, what the set-up was, and that she sat by herself with him. She was ready...she was going to sit in his lap, tell him she wanted a Gator, and give him a kiss. The enthusiasm continued as we waited in line.
They let groups in a few at a time to the actual Santa Land. We caught the tail end of the line and got to see him coming down the chimney. Santa takes breaks through the day to feed his reindeer and you hear the jingle bells before he appears. See his feet dangling?
He talks to the crowd, talks about the reindeer and what he'll do Christmas night. I was just on cloud nine because it's the same speech that I heard after he came down the chimney. Sadly, we didn't catch this part on video.
Then Santa sits and makes himself pretty. He combs his beard and hair and tells himself how great he looks.
Avery (and Mama) were in awe.
We noticed Avery starting to get a little upset before he came down the chimney, but she recovered. We distracted her with iPhone apps when other kids cried so she wouldn't think you do that for Santa. My dad and I hopped out of line to take pictures and video, and Avery was smiling and getting excited about Santa's boots. I still had a feeling it may not be our most magical moment.
I was right. She talked to the Snow Queen and remained ready, until Daddy actually put her down.
Even Santa looks concerned.
I took the above pictures very quickly and did not make her sit for an eternity as it appears. Ned went to get her and she did manage a teary smile and wave for Santa. Then she fell apart again when she saw me. This is the picture that they took.
It's still a memory! My photo with the Legendary Santa just before I turned two looks a lot like this. We regrouped and got a family picture. I'm never in pictures anymore because I shoot in Manual and no one knows how to. Poppa did pretty well with the focus in this one. We also got our new book about this Santa and our 75th anniversary ornament.
Our total time today was about 2 hours. We had short wait last year but a fairly good wait the first year. I went each year from birth to my senior year, Ned went, and my dad went. Waiting in line doesn't matter when it's tradition.
Even though we were approaching lunch time, I honored my promise of lunch at Bass Pro Shops. We found a full parking lot and long wait there too. It's times like that when I start to feel my Kate Gosselin come out. Everyone is hungry, we're approaching nap time, and I'm trying to maneuver through a store full of outdoor things and "outdoorsy" people (my husband and father included). Our wait ended up being only 30 minutes compared to over an hour like they had said. It was still 1:45 before we were leaving. Avery very tired, took awhile to fall asleep, then had nap cut short by her cough. She woke up in greats spirits though. Not ready to go see Santa again but still talking about his chimney.
It was a special day and we're ready to do it again next year. Avery thinks Sam will cry too.
1 comment:
Oh I loved reading this post and what a memory it will be! I hope for Paisley to get to see Santa come down the chimney next year! We have yet to catch that and I so remember the amazement as a child! Avery was so sweet in her lil dress and her lil upset face was sweet too. I too bought the ornament as that's a tradition I started with Paisley the very 1st year and I had to have the signed copy of the 75th anniversary Santa book as well. Great pictures and so glad you got in one too:-)
Post a Comment