A Santa first.

So, we don't do Santa. 

I've never shared that before, because I've never felt it necessary, it's just one of those personal-parenting decisions that Paul and I made a long time ago.  I don't care if other parents do it, and I certainly don't give other people grief about what they do, but I've sure been given grief about it, but whatever. 

My parents didn't teach me Santa was the real-deal, because when my sister found out the truth, she was DEVASTATED. So, I grew up knowing that Santa was make-believe, and I turned out normal. NO COMMENTS PLEASE.   

But let me be honest, it always made me sad that I never had a picture of either of my kids in Santa's lap. Even though I never believed, I still sat in his lap! I guess in my mind it didn't hurt to have a back-up, you know, JUST IN CASE. 

SO, you see where this is going?

Hope and I walking through the mall the other night....

"Mommy, I want to sit on his lap!"

"YOU DO?"

"I think so. But I'm kinda shy to him."

"Okay, well it's up to you! Let's just walk by and see what you think about it."

--insert nerves, giggles, and eventually backing out--

"Hope, we are going to leave, so last chance"

"I wanna do it mommy!"

And up we went! I had a big plan to take a picture with my cell phone, but the Santa police shut me right down. And I being the big sucker I am, paid almost twenty dollars for this picture right here...

Worth it.