Santa

Today, when I got home from school, I dressed Taiger in his new church suit and we went to see Santa. Taiger was SO excited! Who cares that I was on phones AND ads today? Who cares that finals are Monday and I have a PILE of studying to do? It is Christmas time and Taiger needed to go sit on Santa's lap and remind us both about the MAGIC of Christmas.

I have been talking a LOOOOOT about what Christmas is "all about". I am trying to focus on Christ's birth and less on the receiving of gifts (mostly because I am broke this year, and partly because I don't want that to be his focus every Christmas for the rest of his life....and that is hard, because, as a Mom, I want nothing more than to shower my son with presents. Not only because he "wants" them and would LOVE them, but also because of the joy it gives me to watch his eyes light up, to see him so happy and excited, to see the joy a glittering pile of presents in a room magic with Christmas morning can bring him). So, we have watched some short films put out by our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (aka: LDS), about the Nativity, the story of Jesus' birth AND His life. We watched "It's A Wonderful Life" (yes, the WHOLE THING...he LOVED it!) and talked about the good feeling it gave us. Anyway, so last night I told he we could go see Santa today, and asked Taiger if it would be okay if Santa brought Taiger just one or two gifts this year. "Two" he said softly. I chuckled, thinking "typical child". Then he added, "One for you and one for me."

So, I brought him today to see Santa.

Waiting at the door to get in to see Santa, who was away...eating cookies and drinking milk, we decided :)

Taiger, when the excitement of seeing Santa simply overwhelmed him...LOVE it when he gets like that!

Have you ever seen a child who looked LESS happy to see Santa? He really was happy...he just doesn't like to show excitement.
After his visit with Santa, we went to the food court and visited over fries and Orange Julious. We spent a long time just sitting there, sipping Raspberry Pina Colada and smiling and laughing and talking. It was so fun to spend time with Taiger with no computer, no ipod, no homework, no phone (okay, so I was SUPPOSED to be answering it...), no other people...just Taiger and me. It was SO nice.

When we got home, I held him while we watched, "Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa".

It was a good day. :)