We've made progress this year Santa!

Remembering years' past, Momma was prepared for another Santa-battle w/ Emily. Last year it was weeks and weeks of "I don't like Santa" before we finally hit a milestone at Santa's house where she at least told Momma what she wanted, so Momma could tell Mrs. Claus.

This year, we hit another milestone.... and it was a big one!

We chose to visit Santa's house early again this year, (it was still November!), and again went when they first opened to avoid the lines. Santa himself held the door open for us.... but as I saw this walking up the sidewalk, I glanced at Daddy, held my breath and said "OK, here we go..." Zachary was GREAT. He gave the big man a shaker.... Emily, just clung to Rick and sort of buried her head in his leg. BUT OK! There were no tears and we were able to walk through the doorway right past Santa!

As in the past, it turns out early in the season, and when they first open for the day, is the best time to visit Santa's house. We only had to share Santa w/ a few other families, so there was plenty of room to enjoy everything.

We got to sit in Santa's sleigh again.... and to quickly re-cap what last year was like....
This year went much more smoothly! It even started snowing on us while we were sitting there w/ Santa! It was magic!Then it was on to enjoy the trains, elves making toys, and our traditional nutcracker poses....

Before we made our way to "the chair"....again, Momma was prepared for a fuss. Last year Emily wouldn't tell anyone what she wanted, not Santa, not Mrs. Claus, not even the elves or reindeer. This year it was a relative piece of cake. Zachary went right up on his lap, and Emily stood next to him... (I think she thought she was protecting him.) Zachary wasn't the happiest he's ever been, but it was a big move up from last year. He didn't really have much to say to Santa, so Momma filled in the blanks for him.Then it was Emily's turn to tell Santa what she wanted. Daddy gathered Zachary and it was just Santa, Emily and Momma... we might as well have been the only ones in the room. I was so proud of her! She wouldn't sit on his lap, but here she is as she walked right up to him, told him what she wanted, and that yes, she was a good girl, and helped Momma fold the clothes and was a good big sister. You can't see Momma on the other side of Santa, but I was just about in his ear trying to hear Emily. For all her rehearsing, she was very nervous and barely audible, and I just couldn't believe how far she's come over the years!