A Visit with Santa

For the past several years, we have made it a tradition to head to Bass Pro Shops for a visit with Santa the Saturday after Thanksgiving with Landon. Meredith was super prepared with a written out list. We had been working on Jillian to get excited. She saw a big inflatable Santa weeks ago and told me Santa was scary. So, I talked him up, telling her that he loved her and that he would like to talk to her so he could bring her toys on Christmas. Then I threw in that he would probably give her candy. From that point on, I would catch her talking to her self, giving herself a pep talk. "Santa yoooves me. Santa gives candy and fruit snacks!" (not sure where the Fruit Snacks came into this, but...)

As we waited, we also got to see Frosty - Jillian was not prepared for Frosty since he was not a part of her pep talk, so no hugs from her!
Meredith took her list right up to Santa and he very patiently read over the whole thing with her, clarified the things on her list, and then tucked it away in his pocket so he could make sure to look at it at the North Pole.

Jillian was more hesitant about going to see him - she stood from afar and told him that she wanted a Hippo and then she just kept repeating "Dora". It reminded me of Ralphie in the Christmas Story not being able to spit out "Red Rider BB gun" because he was so excited. Luckily, she didn't protest sitting in his lap. She does look a bit suspicious here, though.
A little happier now!

And we got one with Landon too!

Jillian very patiently waited for her candy while Landon talked to Santa. Then she told Santa "Dora Fwoooot Snacks.' Still not sure if she expected him to pull them out of his pocket right then or if that was just a continuation of her earlier request.

Daddy showed the girls how to shoot guns. Merry Christmas.
We love the Reindeer "Carouself" It was a special treat to have Papa with her - and Jillian was trying to get Papa to ride next to her. He decided to just stand next to Jillian's reindeer instead.
Landon and Meredith rode the sleigh and had lots of cousin fun
Then a Hanks Family picture