Here Comes Santa Claus

Well, it's been two weeks since Halloween, and you know what that means! Yep, Santa Claus is comin' to town. Or the mall. They had a big balloon shaped like Santa in front of the mall that said he'd arrive today in a parade at 9:30. Though I've been kind of disappointed in Quintard Mall's lack of delivery in this area, it's all my kids know so....we were there and Meagan and Kylie met us.

We almost did NOT make it since Sage woke up with a sore throat yesterday morning, but she didn't have a fever. By 1:00 the school had called and asked me to come and get her. I knew that couldn't be good. A few hours later, she was running a fever, and I knew what it was. So we took her to CARES. The result: strep. Poor girl. She got that painful penicillin shot, but she still woke up in the night in pain. Since she didn't have a fever this morning and felt up to going, we went for it. Travis is in Auburn shooting the game, so I'm outnumbered.

Waiting for the "parade." That is in quotes for a reason as you'll see in a minute. This is a typical picture with not one kid looking towards the camera. Granted, the sun was obviously in their faces.He was just glad to be out of the stroller. The way they did it was their "parade" circled around the mall at the rate of a snail. We were at the final point of the parade where Santa actually entered the mall, so we had quite a bit of waiting.
And finally, they see it!
He does too!
The one and only float of the "parade." I didn't take a picture of the red cross truck that was the grand master of the parade. Oh wait, or was it the 2 girls walking with the "Goodys" banner in between them? Sorry for my cynicism, but let's not call something a parade when I've got more of a parade in my driveway. But HEY, the kids were just excited to see Santa.
I do love the chick-fil-a cow! Actually, I love chick-fil-a!
And there he is!
Santa!!
The first thing he did when he got out (after telling the awaiting kids "Merry Christmas") was to donate to the Salvation Army, and he also said something about giving was what it was about since Jesus gave us His all. Very impressive, Santa. I still do get teary when I see him for the first time. That plus the kind of morning it was, I suppose. ;)
And who was one of the first to see him? Grayson! Emily said he kept saying, "Um, hi Santa. I want a horsey. Hi, Santa. Santa..." So cute! I did take the kids up there later to see him, and they would barely get near him. Although Sage did manage to muster that she wanted "Go-Go, My Walking Pup."