Visit from Santa

Hard to believe this is already our third annual visit from Mr. Santa Dennis!  For me, it immediately brings back his first 2 visits--Amara at 6/7 months, and Granny flirting with him, getting a photo of the group of us at mom and dads, then last year, with her white sweater dress and boots, high-fiving Santa in her uncertainty to sit with him for very long...

This year, at the new house, he let himself right in the front door, bells blazing, and we were all shocked to see him!

She ran around saying "this is my mommy, this is my daddy, this is my Grandma, this is Ily, this is my Grandpa" as if to reintroduce him to all of us.  She quickly jumped paces to sharing her books, showing him stunts, and doing all of those 2-year old toddler things, that make you grin to yourself (in their inability to sit still for more than 7 seconds).

But neither Santa Dennis, nor we, minded.  He is so sweet and patient with her, he tries all his tricks to engage her and she was so sweet. She doesn't know a stranger--Eric had told her a special visiter was coming ( to coax her into clothes vs. her jammies) and she truly acted as if he was a friend, someone she knew and was comfortable with, who'd been here a million times.

He tried to explain to her the magic of Christmas (see red light on his finger) and how it makes Rudolph's nose light up, the reindeer fly, and a slew of other powers.

He brought with him a book about how reindeer came to be the animal of choice in pulling his sleigh--she was interested for a few pages.

I think he was asking her what she wanted for Christmas, or telling her to be good, that he was watching--I'm not sure that she grasped that part, but you can tell she's interested in the moment.

A hug from Santa after he gave her the WONDERFUL toy of a band in the box, which we all participated in an impromptu jam session with.

After telling her to be sure to lay out cookies, and that chocolate chip are his favorite, she sprinted to the kitchen to have daddy get here one of the batch that I'd just made--she never eats more than a bits, but they shared a nibble, while he told her to be sure to lay out raisins for the reindeer too.

Such a sweet tradition, we have daddy to thank.  Next year should be interesting--he will have his hands full (so will we) and I bet he doesn't have to pry to find out what she'll want him to bring this time!