Good Ole St. Nick

Yesterday we decided it was a good day to visit Santa. I think there has only been one year that Sean would not sit on Santa's lap.

Last year we had  Santa sightings at several places, including our bank. He was putting something in the trunk of his 1970s model Cadillac. It was an impromptu meeting because I didn't know Santa was at the bank, but of course we had to say hello. Luckily he was headed back inside and Sean got to sit on his lap. Unfortunately I had only my cell phone, and that pic wasn't great. He was a great Santa, real beard, nice outfit. Sean decided he was the real guy. But he wasn't sure why he was driving a Cadillac and what he had done with the Reindeer.

Other than that, we didn't go anywhere to see Santa and just waited for him to come by our house. Our local fire department has had Santa visits to all the neighborhoods in our community for as long as we've lived here.  It is very cute, and such a great community service. The truck stops so the kids can get on the sleigh and have time with Santa and Mrs. Claus, they get a candy cane and we can take pictures.  I'm not sure they will do it this year. Money is tight, and the schedule doesn't have neighborhoods listed, only major centers in each area.

I wanted to have a nice picture this year. Sean is 7, and I started thinking this could be our last year for that true Santa experience.

In the past he has been excited to see Santa, but this year was over the top. He has asked several times how we can tell if it's the real one. As we stood in line - a short line YAY! Sean was inspecting him, craning his neck around people and surveying the lay of the land. He was asking if the trees around the set up were real. Some were, some weren't.

When it was his turn, he willingly sat right on his lap and told Santa what he wanted. He smiled for pictures, which I paid way too much for.  I did get to take some with my camera, but the sign said only if you were buying.

After the visit we went to eat at the food court. That is where Sean told me he thought it might have been the real Santa. Real beard, and seemed like the real thing.