Next Year Santa Comes to Me

Last year, right around this time, I wrote this post.  In summary, it was all about our misadventures of taking the girls to see Santa.  I vowed to go super early this year, as I felt like most of our problems stemmed from going too late in the season.

Best laid plans right?

In my defense, I had every intention of seeking out the fat man early this year.  However, the shooter situation at the mall near us recently, changed my plans.  I no longer wanted to take them to the mall...I wanted to find someway else to do it.

So Skip set out on a mission to find an alternate place to see Santa.  There were a few options that either he was working during, or got cancelled due to snow.  We really tried to find a firehouse that was having pictures, but it just wasn't working out.

So last Friday, I told Skip we needed to just suck it up and take them to the mall that day.  I figured if we tried a different mall from the one we went to last year, we might have better luck {yes there are six malls in about 10 miles from my house...go Jersey}.  Skip felt bad, because I had "called in sick" that day and just wanted to rest, but I knew we couldn't put it off any longer. 

Skip picked up Emmy from school while I got Charlie and all our supplies ready {when you're looking at a possible hour long wait for Santa, you pack snacks}.  Skip swung by and picked us up, and we were off.

With minimal car whining, we got to the mall, found a parking spot, and headed in.

This is where things go south.

We were on the heavily salted sidewalk, heading into the mall entrance.  I had my purse over my shoulder and Charlie in my arms.  I have no idea how it happened, but next thing you know, I am flying forward in slow motion.  I must have slipped on the salt or something.  All I could think about was protecting Charlie, as I had no real way to block our fall.  With both arms around her, I somehow managed to soften the blow to Charlie, so she was a little shaken, but totally fine.

I on the other hand was not as lucky.  I had some bruising on my elbow and wrist, a decent amount of back pain, two very sore, very scraped, very bleeding, knees, and one pair of ripped red skinnies.

Pretty red skinnies....you didn't even know what was coming.

I was in pain, along with mortified, so I quickly got up, pulled my boot socks up over the holes in my pants, and headed in the mall to finish what we came here to do.  I didn't want to drag the outing out more than needed, so I wanted to get our pictures and get home so I could get cleaned up.

Thankfully the line wasn't long at all.  Which is good because neither of my girls wanted anything to do with Santa at that point.  I had snacks, I phones, drinks, lollipops, you name it, but none of that mattered.  They just wanted to whine and fuss. 

Thankfully we only had to wait about 15/20 minutes I think before it was our turn with Santa.  I worried Charlie would get scared, but since Emmy had been so excited about this forever, I figured she would hope right up on his lap and start jabbering away.  No such luck. 

Both girls seem terrified as they gripped onto Skip and I for dear life.  Thankfully Santa, and the photographer were super understanding and Skip and I each grabbed a girl for a big family photo.  After about 15 snaps, this was the best we got.

At least they're not screaming in it?

Next year Santa comes to our house to take pictures.  I mean it this time!!