Dear Santa

We brought the girls too see Santa with my family last weekend.

Vivi is getting a little less shy around strangers, but I did not have high hopes for her first visit with Mr. Claus.
When she saw him, her grip on me tightened, but she didn't cry. We were able to sit for a few family photos before the tears finally came. I call that a win.

Maddie was braver this year too. Before we got there, she decided that although she wouldn't sit on his lap, she would sit next to him. And that's just what she did. She wouldn't look at him though....hey, baby steps.

The goal is to eventually get a picture of the girls without Eric and I there too. Maddie will probably be twelve by then.

When we were finished, Madeline realized that she didn't tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas. This worried her a but, but we reminded her that we wrote him a letter, so all was well.

We've been bringing Madeline to the same local garden center to see Santa since she was one. They have lots of decorated trees, hot cider, chocolate chip cookies, and a large train set to keep the kiddos (and adults) amused.

(I hate to tell you girls, but there's a creeper in the bushes behind you.)

(Cousin Love)
And now, the ghosts of Santas past: (They also switched Santas on us this year, and we were bummed. The old Santa was the best!)

2013

2012

2011

2010
Thanks for playing photographer, Mimi and Bob!

I can't get over how much Madeline looks like Vivi in this picture....or Vivi looks like Maddie...