HELLO SANTA

I felt like the entire month of November had been spent with someone in our house being sick. It wasn't far from the reality either. So when Vivi was finally feeling better I wanted to go out and do something to bring the Christmas spirit. Stella's class was having a fourth grade ski trip on Thursday December 7th, so she didn't go to school. It was the perfect day to go and see Santa. We called Grammie and headed down to City Creek.

We got there and the mall was dead. No one was around. So by the time we got to the adorable Santa lantern they had we were able to just walk right in. Vivi had already been interested in Santa and was pointing him out in pictures, but seeing Santa in real life was totally different. She was NOT interested in sitting on that scary man's lap. Now, when Stella was scared her first time, I just made her do it and didn't care. But with Vivi, I am much more cautious about insisting she be comfortable and accepting of complete strangers. Finally I thought of the idea of putting her on Stella's lap, and she did it. And then she smiled so cute for the picture. I loved it.

Stella asked for a slime-making kit and Vivi asked for anything Minnie Mouse.

After we had the printed picture, Vivi grabbed it and pointed and told us all excitedly about seeing Santa, how he says "Ho, Ho, Ho," and how she sat on his lap and took a picture with Stella. It was totally adorable. Mrs. Claus had also been there and she gave Vivi a Santa book. Vivi LOVED it. She carried it everywhere we went for DAYS after. It was good evidence that seeing Santa had been a good memory for her and not a traumatizing and scary one--thank goodness.

After our Santa visit we had some food at Blue Lemon and then went shopping at Deseret Book. I'm so glad we took the time to see Santa this year and also that we were able to do it crowd-free. It was awesome.