are we in the north pole, mama?

So today was our big Breakfast with Santa. Luckily, we avoided a huge "E is terrified of Santa" crisis by getting that out of the way on Friday night instead. The local fire department drives a decorated fire truck with Santa around the neighborhoods in December, and last night they came to ours. John and I raced the girls outside when we heard the sirens.

"Where are we going?" E asked me as we went outside.
"To see Santa, E! He's coming here on a fire truck!" I told her.
"NO MOMMY! I'M SCARED! I WANT TO GO INSIDE!"

Luckily she put on a brave face while hanging out with the other neighborhood kids. And then he came. He stayed a far distance away (on the top of the truck), but threw out candy, so E instantly loved him again. Though, John said that she told him that she didn't want to eat breakfast with him, but he could stop by her house and leave her presents.

This morning, though, she sang a different tune. She happily put on her Santa dress and we piled in the car for breakfast. We headed to the next community over, and when we stopped, E asked me, "Are we in the North Pole, mama?"

The breakfast was great, and the girls ate a ton. The Santa was very nice, and you could take your own pictures. And, since there wasn't a line to see him, all my babes got a turn with Santa, letting the big guy know what they wanted under the tree this Christmas.

Two Girls and a Claus

"I'd like a baby in a box with milk in a bottle..."

"I'd like to get off your lap, scary guy with the beard."

"I'd like Gator Bowl tickets and a case of Coors Light..."

Afterward, John's Aunt Kathleen came to exchange gifts. The girls got tons of cool stuff, including some puzzles, musical instruments and E got a kid-proof digital camera. Aunt Kathleen brought her fancy Digital SLR camera, and got a decent family shot of us in front of our dinky little tree.