Our Yearly Visit with Santa

Each year we make a trip to visit good ol' Saint Nick. I look forward to it every year....the excitement on the kiddies faces, the anticipation, etc. It's soooo enjoyable for me. This year was no different. Eva and Jaden were both anxious to visit with the big guy and patiently waited in line until it was their turn.

When we actually get to walk up to Santa is always my favorite part because you never know exactly what the kiddies are going to do when they get a chance to come face to face with the man. One year Eva absolutely refused to sit on his lap, but she was more than willing to stand beside him and explain to him what she wanted. Last year Jaden screamed with arms flailing the entire visit while Eva sat on his lap and patiently went through her 3 page list with Santa. Soooo....I was anxious to see what this year would bring.

Eva was oh-so-excited and while Jaden was willing to sit on his lap he absolutely refused to look at him. Eva told Santa that she wants a tennis racket for Christmas and Jaden put his head down (still not looking at him) and mumbled that he wanted a Handy Manny Tool Shop....poor Santa had to look at Mommy to interpret little Jaden's shy mumbles.

After that the picture was taken (with Jaden still not looking at the big guy).....

Before we knew it our special visit was over...but the fun was still unfolding! The place we enjoyed our visit with Santa had a train that children could ride and our little ones were more than excited to join in that kind of fun!!!

After our train ride we went to the Disney Store for each child to pick out a toy for Toys for Tots. Matt and I try sooo very hard to teach our children the importance of giving, and the Holidays are a perfect time to hit this lesson hard. We talked about how not all childrens' parents can afford presents on Christmas morning and it's so important to do our part to help those children (and parents) out. Jaden is still a little young to understand the whole concept, but Eva seems to understand it more and more every year - and I love to see that little seed blossoming in her! As we walked throughout the Disney store we looked at all kind of things and we talked about the kinds of things other children may enjoy. Eva paused to look at a few little toy cell phones and decided that they were too small...she wanted the child to have something a little bigger. In the end they both decided on these HUGE stuffed animals (so big that Jaden could barely walk with his). They thought another child would enjoy snuggling with it. I was so proud of them as they walked them over to the Marine in the mall and willingly handed the stuffed animals over for another child to enjoy on Christmas morning.

Afterwards our family enjoyed a lunch at Olive Garden! During a time that is chock full of fun festivities and get-togethers this little afternoon holds a very special place in my heart!