Santa Clause!

Today we visited Santa at the mall.  My first said trip in many years since Madison has refused the tradition after one harrowing experience at age 5.  So obviously I was a little bit apprehensive about how Harper would respond. 

In true form, Harper was, of course, a precious trooper and after staring at Santa awkwardly for about 10 seconds she jumped right up into his lap.  Otto was obviously entranced by Santa or so frightened he feigned sleep!  Although not entirely perfect because when asked what she wanted for Christmas and what her name was Harper sat silently and stared longingly at the crayons and coloring book he was giving out. I guess the childhood obesity epidemic sweeping the nation has resulted in no candy canes from a fat guy at Christmas...too bad.  Next year should be just as exciting and wonderful and we will have the picture to prove it!

Just a side note...Madison watched from afar after opting out of the picture.  She has been renamed "13 year old doesn't want to sit in an old guy with a beard's lap in the middle of the mall in fear of some of her school friends seeing her."  Typical teenager...but at least she didn't start crying and run hysterically from the display as she did at so long ago.