A visit with Santa

Today we finally made it to see Santa! I seem to be doing everything late recently. I can't believe that Christmas is just three weeks from today! I haven't even decorated at work yet - and I usually have that done before I leave for Thanksgiving! At least I'm decorated at home, though! So, we finally made it to see Santa after I picked up Libby from school today. Ever since she was born the Santa in our mall has been the same man every single year and I think that has always helped with the continuity for her to believe that he actually was Santa. I bragged about that fact this year and it came back to bite me because we walk up today and it was a different Santa! Either Libby didn't notice (but she's a very perceptive little girl!) or she just didn't say anything and I didn't want to probe too much because I want to keep her believing for a long as possible. Today at work Ryan was talking with a girl that he works with and she said that her son just figured out that Santa wasn't real (the son is like 10 years old) and Ryan said to her, "Don't say that to Leslie because I think she still actually believes!" :-) It's true, though. I still totally believe in all of the magic of Christmas - and that includes believing in Santa!!! But, that's about me and I was talking about Libby. So, we get there and Libby was a little shy (as always) but Santa was a wonderful Santa. He started talking to her and had her go sit in his lap and he talked to her for a bit and then they took a picture and then he asked her what she wanted for Christmas, etc. She left there jacked up because she finally officially requested her Barbie dreamhouse from Santa. And Libby knows that whatever she asks Santa for she gets. I think that's very important in making her believe in Santa so far so I'll do whatever it takes to keep that up. Luckily for me she has always asked for stuff that I've been able to actually get. Even if it was the knock-off version (the American Girl doll that she wanted last year that you may remember I found a pretty good look-alike in Target for like 1/5 of the price of that nearly $100 doll). There was also that year in 2006 when I took her to see Santa two days before Christmas and she surprised me and asked him for a Bratz pony. What?!?! That was the first that she had ever mentioned that! So, I had to freaking order one online and *overnight* it to my house. I'm sure you know that the shipping cost more than the darn pony! :-) But, anyway, I've always been able to come through with the thing that she asks Santa for so she knows that if she asks Santa for it that it will appear under the tree Christmas morning. So, now that Santa knows her request she is very anxious for Christmas! :-)

Here is a picture from just before we saw Santa. You'll have to wait to see the Santa picture in your Christmas card in a few days! :-)