Visiting Santa!

'Tis the season to drive 20 minutes to Chapel Hill, then wait in line for another 10-15 minutes, all so you can listen to a five-minute conversation between Santa and a 3-year-old.

Santa: What do you want for Christmas this year?
Chad: A blower!
Santa: OK... Anything else? Do you want any toys?
Chad: Yeah!! Toys!!

They also discussed how it was important to be good all year long, not just at Christmas, how many sleeps there would be before Santa came to our house, and how Chad shouldn't worry, because Santa would be very quiet when he came in and he wouldn't wake anyone up. Chad checked Santa's beard to make sure it was real, made funny faces for the camera, and then got a candy cane at the end.

The photographer asked Chad to look at Santa's nose, so Chad poked it.

During this little adventure, my attitude morphed from the practical, "We're just here so Chad can talk to Santa, we don't need to spend any money on overpriced pictures." to "OMG! My kid is so cute! We need photo documentation of this entire encounter! There's a package with two 5x7s, two 3x5s, four wallets and a light-up frame for just $39.99?? Please, take my money! Here's my credit card!" 

I have to spoil Chad as much as I can before his life is turned upside down in a month or so.

And in my defense, the light-up frame is really cute, and I could clearly see it selling for $25 by itself. It was just $10 if we bought it with that picture package. And I said "No, thank you" to the bonus CD of all images.

You can't really tell, but there are 5 LED lights that twinkle in alternating colors. Worth every penny. :)