Visit to Santa

So I took the kids Christmas shopping on December 8th, while Barry was at work. Yes, I was brave. Alone, in a shopping mall with two kids, one of them...Chloe!

Yes, our little girl is known for her mercurial moods. One second it's all summer...bright, cheery, full of zest, and fun. Next she's turned into a cold, winter day...full of bluster and anger, and crying jags. All four seasons in a day.


Chloe LOVES going to the mall. Most of the time I go with someone, so she is able to get out of her stroller and run around.

Well, I was solo this time (probably my last time until she reaches her teens). She was good for most of the mall trip. Then she wanted down. She wanted to walk. Like I said, most of the time, this wouldn't be a problem if someone else where there, but I had no idea how to keep a hold of the stroller with Fox and his carrier in it, and hold the leash that Chloe was attached to so I would have some modicum of control. But I let her out of the stroller to walk, and for the most part, she was great.

Then I had the brilliant idea of taking the kids to see Santa. Barry wasn't with us and so he couldn't put the keebosh on my plan. I thought since Chloe absolutely LOVED the Easter Bunny, this would be a breeze, right? right? WRONG!

Fox of course was awesome...nothing rattles him. He sits on Santa's lap just as happy as you please. I grab a hold of Chloe to sit her on Santa's lap when I notice she'd spilled her cholocate milk and it looks like she had hull breach with her diapers. I note (and choose to ignore) that Santa gives me this disapproving look and a nervous gesture with his hands. Chloe in the meantime is screaming "DOWN! DOWN! DOWN!" but I AM gonna get my Christmas picture.

So I sit her on Santa's lap and command the kid behind the counter with the camera to take the picture. I look back now and think I must have been like mad Dr. Frankenstein commanding his creature to rise, RISE!! Take the picture, TAKE THE PICTURE NOW!!! Here's the results.


Did you know if you scramble the letters in Santa you get Satan?

Also, I did a lot more shopping on the 'net after that venture.