Braving Santa

   For family night, this last Monday, we went and saw Santa at Bass Pro Shop. Everyone was so excited to tell Santa one last time what they wanted for Christmas. Addison was especially excited and told Mommy all day long that she was going to talk to Santa and tell him she wanted a shopping cart with food in it for Christmas. I was excited for her to. She was so confident in sitting on Santa's lap and saying that she was a big girl. Every year so far, Addison has been scared of Santa and usually cries on his lap. If you already cheated and looked at the pictures, you will see that the tradition was kept this year as well. 
     Our family got to Bass Pro Shop. We took a peek and saw Santa  holding other girls and boys on his lap. The kids were excited to go tell Santa what they wanted but we wanted to wait for Grammy and Pappi. So we played with the toys on display, looked at the giant fish tank with all the big fish and made a Santa bobber ornament that they had provided. Grammy showed up and told us that Pappi would probably not be their for another hour or so. The kids were getting tired and we hadn't had dinner yet, so we decided to get in line. We were surprised with the line. In previous years, we would have to stand in line for hours. But this time we must have come on a good day and time because we didn't have to wait long. 
     Just as it was our turn next to see Santa, Ethan told me he wanted to see Santa by himself. I tried to presuade him to do it with Addison to help Addison out but he really wanted to talk to Santa on his own. So I let him and he did great. He walked up to Santa with no problem and told Santa what he wanted. I still haven't got a straight answer from Ethan what he wants for Christmas, so I was curious what he told him. When I asked later what he told Santa, I didn't get an answer. Hopefully Santa knows what he is doing for Christmas. I haven't ever worried about Ethan talking to Santa.

        Addison was still doing okay but I could see her confidence that she had been displaying all day and evening start to shrink. When it was her turn to walk to Santa, silent tears started and then when we got to Santa she started to cry. Poor Santa didn't know what to do and then offered that she sit on his toy box. As you can see in the picture she sat turned away from Santa. The company takes free pictures of the kids with Santa but we couldn't wait long enough to get a picture from them, so these are picture Daddy took. Santa was still so kind and offered her a candy cane and asked for a high five. She calmed down to take the candy cane and give the high five. 

      While walking away she then began to cry but it was a different cry than before. We asked her what was wrong and she said she didn't get to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas. She was disappointed in herself, I think, in not staying brave. We reassured her that Santa knew what she wanted since she did send him a letter and he did reply back. She still sobbed for a while but didn't want to go and try see Santa again. We left the store discussing where we were going to eat, and decided on the kids favorite Steak and Shake.
     Addison was better by now but then we had Ethan crying because he decided that he didn't want to go to Steak and Shake but he wanted to go to McDonalds. We told him was out voted and if he carried on then he wouldn't get anything even at Steak and Shake. (I told you I am the meanest parent alive.) I think the kids were at this point just tired and hungry. Then, while driving to Steak and Shake Grammy told us that Pappi was hear and just missed the Santa fun by minutes. We felt bad. If we would have waited a few minutes or if the line would have been just a little longer Pappi would have been there to help Addison. Pappi and Addison have a very special bond. 
     We all got to eat, at the Steak and Shake, which surprisingly, Ethan even aloud told us was a really good place to eat. They have mac and cheese and fries for the kids, plus the shakes. My kids are picky eaters but they will always eat there. In the end it was a great night even if we didn't brave Santa.