Santa's Debut

The day that we wait for all year, not Christmas, but close:  Santa's ARRIVAL, came just two weeks after Halloween.  We are always there for his debut, and it's never any less magical.  When I was little, he came in on a parade.  We don't quite have that, but he did come in on a train this year.  It was pretty awesome. 

Emily met us there with her kids.  We've been going together for a few years now.  The boys were excited.

 Now my video is horrible, but it does get how excited Jaggar was, and that is worth everything to me.  NO ONE loves Christmas like Jaggar.  He actually got upset when people would say, "It's Thanksgiving!"  So therefore, he hated Thanksgiving because it stood in the way of Christmas for him.  Anyway, I love him in this video.  SO precious and I tear up when I watch it.  Sage was also excited, but she is always reserved.

 Santa brought Mrs. Claus with him.

 Jaggar and Grayson sharing the joy.

 Then we went to wait in line to see Santa.  It actually wasn't that bad.

 Our cute crew

 The moment of Jaggar's life.  He's so ready.

 And he hated it.  Ready to be in the bed.  He's definitely my early to bed, early to rise child.

 Santa was more than ready to hold Costner.

 But Costner was unimpressed.

 Sharing what they want.  Jaggar asked for walkie talkies; Sage asked for an ipad.  Hmmm...

 The train that Santa rode in on gave free rides all night, so after we shopped a bit, we rode it again and again because everyone was gone.  Even though Travis had to go to Auburn from the mall, we had a great night.  Sweet memories.

Santa's Back

Every year we just can't wait for Santa to return.  The lights, the reindeer, the anticipation, it's wonderful.  Jaggar was like, 'YEEEEEAAAA!!!" every time we told him that we were going to see Santa that night.  He is also very into what he wants for Christmas.  And that happens to be whatever the last thing is that he saw.  Right now, it's "the shark thing," which is a tube of plastic sharks with a shark head as a lid.  Sage wants the newest American Girl doll, Caroline, and surprises.  So last Friday night, we went to the mall to wait for Santa's debut.  Jaggar couldn't stand the wait.  "Where's Santa????"  

Yes, he is spitting here.  At least, it's a good picture of Sage.

 And we waited.  Some little church dance studio had some girls that danced, which Sage critiqued from her 5 years of dance under her belt.  And then it was time.  You can watch him come out here.  I love Jaggar's excitement and all the excitement of the kids.  It's so sweet.  Okay, I'm going to be real now.  We all know that Santa has helpers.  He can't be at all malls at once, but we just never know when the real Santa is going to slip in.  So we have to be on point all the time.  But...I hate this Santa helper.  I had hopes in the video when he first came out that he'd do better...and then he speaks.  The best helper or real Santa (I think he was real) was here. He was amazing, but he got injured a few years ago...and he's never been able to return.  So this guy comes...and I seriously just don't like him.  But it's a new year.

 Grayson and Adalyn were there too, and I can't help but crack up at Adalyn's face.  Emily says this is what she does every time she's instructed to smile.  :)  Jaggar couldn't understand why we had to wait in line.

 So off we go.  This guy hit a bad note with me a few years ago when he told Sage this never ending story about how when I was little I asked for this doll.  But she didn't have red hair, so I colored her hair with a red marker in "that room in the back of Sage's grandmother's house."  Did she know the one he was talking about?  Yeah.  So this time, he's all right.  Kids are saying what they want.  Then he does it.  He looks at me and asks when I'm due only to go on and ON about how he's having a grandson in 3 weeks, too.  I mean, really?  You're seriously there for 20 minutes on the first NIGHT and you can't do better than that.

 It was fine.  The kids were in awe.  Sage still thought he was the real one instead of a helper needing to be fired like I believe because he knew their names.