Our Girls Actually Took Pictures with Santa!

We have tried for 6 years to get our girls to take pictures with Santa.  Every year, we stand in line because they are SO excited.  And every year, when it is our turn to sit on his knee, they chicken out and refuse to go near him.  We've tried and tried, and never gotten a good picture. 

Last night, I took Avery to Sam's Club to pick up a couple things and they were doing free pictures with Santa.  She said she wanted to do it, so we went over and, though she was a little hesitant, she did it!  And she LOVED seeing her picture at the end!

When we got home and showed her big sisters her picture, they just about did back flips about the opportunity to have THEIR picture taken with Santa.  All morning, Keara kept asking when we would be going.  Finally, it was time.

We went, we stood in line, they talked to him, they took pictures with him, they smiled, they were happy, and they LOVED their pictures.  He was by far the BEST Santa I have ever seen.  Not only was his beard gorgeous, he also took at least 5 minutes with our family (I felt bad for everyone else in line) and talked to each of the girls like he knew them well.  He talked about the baby shoes Keara used to wear when she was Mazie's age, told them about things their Grandma used to do as a girl when she sat on his lap (apparently she pinched him and thought it was SO funny!) and answered their questions, like where he parked his sleigh (by the river so the reindeer could get a drink when they wanted).  He was fantastic!

And I love the pictures.  The deal was your first 4x6 was free, but I guess they loved the picture of Mazie looking at Santa too much to pass up.  Me too. 

This definitely started the magic of Christmas for our girls!