Santa Naught or Nice

   

The kids feel they are very special and lucky because they got to see Santa not once but two times this year before Christmas. On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 after everyone was done with work we all meet at Bass Pro Shop where Santa was coming again to see the children. Ethan has been looking forward to not only seeing Santa this year but also going to the Bass Pro Shop. In this store there are huge fish tanks with many different kinds of sharks and fish to look at. In one of the tanks they even had a diver in with the fish and you could ask her questions about the fish she was with. They also have many stuffed deers, lions, a giraffe, bears and other animals to look at. 
         During the Christmas season they also pull out toys for the kids to play with like a huge train set on a table and the kids can drive the train. They have a race car track with two race cars to race. At a certain time they also provide activities for the kids. The activity that Ethan and Addison got to do was paper bag reindeer. Thank goodness Grammy was there to help us with the activity because putting it together was a little challenging and would have been worse without help. While Ethan, Addison, Grammy and Mommy were doing the activities, Daddy and Pappi were standing in the line to see Santa. Pappi even spoiled the kids a little and bought a big tub of cheese puffs and some water for the kids to eat while we were waiting. Just as we were getting close to Santa, Santa (we assume) had to take a bathroom break. By this point the kids are getting a little tired of the store and are ready to go. They were really good though and waited patiently for Santa. 
             When it was finally our turn we went to sit on Santa's lap. Ethan was excited and got right on but Addison did not even want to come close to this guy. I have to say, since she took to Santa at the ward party so good I was a little shocked when she started to cry. She didn't even care this time that Santa was giving out mini candy canes. They tried to make her happy for a picture with Santa but she was so upset. In one of the pictures they took Ethan is covering his ears with Addison really crying hard. I wish they would have given me that picture. Santa felt so bad that he took a picture with just Ethan and told the lady to print two pictures for us to keep. Santa is so thoughtful. And yes, Ethan said very clearly what he wanted to Santa again. We know Santa heard because Santa even repeated what Ethan said and told him that he would be coming to his house very soon. Ethan was very excited and tired and thought Santa was nice. Addison was tired, upset and thought Santa was very naughty too make her sit on his lap. 

       She got over it though. Especially when we went to a Steak and Shake afterwards, were she got Mac and Cheese, French fries and shared a cookie dough shake with mommy. Ethan also loved this place because it had mini corn dogs for him but he especially loved his cookie dough shake. They also gave the kids hats and car cuts outs to fold to make one cool car. I think we will be going their again someday. The only bad thing was it was inside a casino hotel and that day there was a lot of crazy drivers. Again, we are grateful to have such a great family that come and make memories with us. It has been such a wonderful year and we are so blessed.