Santa 2009!

This year we continued our tradition of taking the kids to see the Santa at the Bass Pro Shop. :) He's the best Santa we've found AND it's free AND they let me take my own pictures, too. :) (They also give a free one that they take along with the option to order more, but I like to take my own.) Another perk is that they have a ton of wonderful displays and games set up all over to entertain the kids including a coloring area, a mini bow-shooting area (it IS a hunting store, after all :), race-cars, and model trains. Much better than the ordinary mall Santa!

Norah LOVED Santa! Of course, Norah loves everyone... She took one look at him and just started bouncing and smiling with excitement.

And, of course, the candy cane may have helped, too. :) Maybe next year she can actually eat it? :)

Jackson asked for, "A Dinosaur!" (Specifically the "Monty Rex" walking, roaring, battery-powered dinosaur.) Santa (a.k.a. Nana) didn't disappoint! :) She bought "Monty" for Jack and Eddie to share.

This year Eddie actually LIKED Santa! We were the first in line so when Santa came by us to get to his big chair, Eddie ran up to him and held out his arms before we could catch him, but Santa actually laughed and picked him up and carried him to the chair. It was so cute! Eddie was in heaven (I'm still in shock over this. He really doesn't like strangers that much! LOL! And he didn't even need to watch Jack go first!) Eddie asked for, "Transformers Animated!" (Thanks to Santa - I mean Aunt Julia and David, Eddie got his wish! :)

While Norah and I held our place in line waiting for Santa, Justin took the boys to play with some of the displays that were set up. Their fave? A mini NASCAR speedway with remote control race-cars. I'm thinking Christmas 2010? :)