First attempt to see Santa

I’m up late trying to come up with something clever to write about our (Ellie & me) outing to Willow Bend Mall today. We were supposed to stop by and see Santa because I’m hoping Ellie will warm up to the old man enough to have her picture taken with him. I didn’t bother getting her all dressed up because I knew it might take a trip or two before she agreed to do this. So, on our drive to the mall, we had a conversation about Santa and how he would bring you gifts on Christams etc. She didn’t seem too interested in all my Santa hype. Well, we got in line at the Polar Express exhibit and were greeted by a very short line. Thank God! I should have known when she was apprehensive about even going into the exhibit that meeting this Santa character may not go over too well with Ellie. We got in line and waited for our turn….and waited…and as we got closer to Santa she got more clingy to me. Then she said, “Mommy, Ellie go home now.” I was going to try and convince her but I knew it was no use. She had that terrified look on her face like she did when we tried to meet the Sesame Street characters in San Diego. So, I put her back in the stroller and walked away. Belive it or not, I was very proud of myself for just walking away. Normally I would have tried to bargain with her by offering some M&M’s or apple sauce or something but this time I didn’t. I figured that she will eventually get really comfortable with Santa and beg to have her picture taken with him. Until then we will just see Santa in books, movies, cartoons or in the isles of the mall…unless a Christmas miracle happens.