The REAL Santa

While getting our teacher gifts, we stumbled upon the Santa in Lincoln Square in Arlington.  It was the best experience I have ever had with Santa!  Since it was 2:30pm on a Monday, we were one of very few kids to see him.  Garrett sat in his lap over five minutes, with Santa asking about his behavior, if was remembering the "real" reason for Christmas, and even made him take an oath about listening and obeying his parents, and being kind to his brother.  The very last thing he asked was what Garrett wanted.  I loved that wasn't his focus. 

Tripp loved the idea of seeing Santa, he enjoyed being in the same room as Santa, he even would stand in front of him and talk (briefly) to him, but there was no way he was sitting in his lap!!  So, when it came time for the picture part, Santa asked Tripp and Garrett if they wanted to sit in his chair.  He then quietly snuck up behind for the picture.  Perfect, and no tears.  Plus they loved that they were sitting in his chair.  

After seeing Santa, they got to color a picture and enter it in a coloring contest, pick out a toy straight from the workshop, and the elves checked to verify if both boys were on the nice list.  The best part for me was that it was all free!  I didn't have my camera so they took the picture and I did buy it (for only $10) but if you had your camera they would have let you take it, and only asked for a donation.  Garrett told me when we left, "Mom, this guy might actually be the REAL Santa, he is much better than that yucky one at the mall."