Kris Kringle

I have said it before and I'll say it again..the concept of waiting in a long line so that your children can sit on a stranger's lap is a very bizarre concept to me.  We did it though.  I put the girls in matching out fits, put bows in their hair and off we went to The Bass Pro Store to see...Santa!
Let me just pause to say that I like Santa, he is a symbol of giving, kindness, and yes, even though he is not the Reason we celebrate Christmas, he is a symbol of the Christmas season. So yes, I like him, Libby likes him.  However,  I don't go out of my way to ensure that Libby is on good behavior all year long  just so that she stays on the right side of his list.  We've never left him cookies and I've never put his name on any Christmas tags...But I suppose the idea of Santa is there somewhere in her mind.
We pulled into the BPS at about 6ish and we were given a card that said we were to see Santa at 7pm.  There were families and children dressed in Christmas frocks everywhere.  It amazes me the lengths that people will go for a photo op with their children. So, here I am buying into the madness.  I too dressed my kids, sat them down on a strangers lap and topped the night off by sitting them in front of a taxidermy raccoon b/c I thought it looked festive.

Libby:  "Yeah Mags, this is what she does.  She'll just plop you down anywhere for a picture"
Maggie:  No really, is that raccoon real?

Around 6:20 we got in line and waited, and waited till we were almost there...and then she saw him. In all her little girlness she exclaimed for all to hear "Mama, I see him, I see Santa!"

 It was the epitome of childhood, until we sat her sister down in his lap.  Then the entire store and restraunt stopped to see who was harming the small child.

It's tradition.  Please oh please don't leave this post until you click on this link and go back to see Libby and Santa several years ago.

Hohohohohoho.
Grace and Peace