Getting the kids' picture taken with Santa this year was a bit of an ordeal. First it was snowing, so we took Big Bad Dad's truck (lucky for us he was still out of town) which meant switching the car seats, toys, books, clothes, diaper bag, and cell phone charge cord from my car. Luckily, even with the wind, snow and ice, it wasn't a bad drive to the FlatIron Crossing Mall, where we get the pictures taken with the same Santa each year.
We hit the bathroom at one of the department stores and I changed the kids into clean outfits - jeans and red shirts and shoes. By the time we changed and walked over to where Santa was, it was time for him to take his break. Damn! So off we went to California Pizza Kitchen, first to change the kids back into their dirty clothes, and then to eat pizza. (Oh the pizza! I just love the Thai Chicken Pizza. It's the only pizza with chicken I can stand. Otherwise chicken on pizza and pasta skeeves me.)
After dinner, we cleaned up and I got the kids back into their photo clothes. Then back over to Santa's station we went. There wasn't much of a line - thank goodness - and the kids were excited to tell Santa what they wanted (golf clubs for Monkey Boy and toys for Boo Girl). When it was time to sit on Santa's lap, Boo Girl went from smiles to a big frown. "You gotta be kidding me!" her expression said.
Even so, it turned out to be a pretty good picture. Monkey Boy looks great as usual, and Boo Girl is very, very serious. Heck it's an improvement from last year's scream fest. Maybe in 2006 we can get her to smile?
