Santa!

So I have a million pictures to share from Emma's first Christmas. And I know everyone's probably ready to move on with 2009 and put the holiday stuff behind but I'm not yet. I'm just not ready. I don't want Emma's first Christmas to be over. I was actually sentimental when I was packing away all the Christmas decorations last night. I'm ready for a new year and fresh starts but I LOVE the magic, warmth and excitement of the holiday season. So ... y'all have to sit through some Christmas posts while I catch up on sharing Emma's first holiday season on this blog. We're beginning with ... the Santa visit.

Emma was very curious about this big guy in red with the white hair all over his face. She was curious and brave ... while she was in Daddy's arms.

Checkin' out the big guy in his huge sleigh. Now, if you may, I'm going to switch to narrative from Emma. Best to let her tell the story here.

"Whoa ... where are we going, Daddy?"

"You're telling me you're LEAVING me on this guy's lap? Some dude I've never seen before in my life? Do you even SEE what is growing on his FACE?"

"Okay, weird. Really. What IS that on his face? Maybe if I don't move a muscle, everything will be okay. I'll sit totally still and not move one little fingertip."

"I'm only going to look forward for two seconds just because you keep bugging me and even when I do that, this is the best expression I'm going to give you. I cannot direct my mind away from that hair on his face long enough to remember how to smile. So you get this face. Deal with it. You're not the one sitting on this lap."

"I looked forward at you long enough, elf helper guy. I need to look back and make sure that white hair is still there. Yep. Wait, what? What did you just say? You, the little elf helper guy. Did you just tell Santa to tickle my belly? WHY would you do that? DON'T!"

"Ahhhhh, he touched me! Get me offa heeeeeeeerrree!"

"Daddy, I'm DONE!"

And that's the story of Emma's first trip to see Santa.