The NO smile Clause...

Who is that pudgy man wearing red, Dad?

Good smile, Owen. I guess Ethan and Santa didn't get the memo...

Look, he has a beard and it felt weird...

There's almost a smile from Santa as Ethan is still a little unsure.

Merry Christmas!

Nice smile, Debbie. All I want for Christmas is to be off Santa's lap. (Look how wide EYED Santa is!)

Checking each other out.

Owen and I felt like we'd be considered bad parents if we didn't take Ethan to see Santa for his first Christmas, but we really did NOT want to stand in line at an overcrowded mall! Today we went to a small, overpriced, but NOT crowded mall for the first time to visit the Santa there. We walked in the entrance that we parked closest to and there he was! SANTA! NO line, in fact there was no one else around at all which is why we have no photos of all three of us with Santa. Our Santa was nice, but he didn't smile! I think Santa was more scared of Ethan than the other way around. Santa really didn't want to make Ethan cry and was really hesitant to have E sit on his lap. He kept saying "Ok, but we gotta make this really quick." It was just what we wanted for this year, since Ethan has no clue what it all means!

We walked around the little mall shops and heard the story behind the "elf on the shelf" which will become a tradition in the future. Next year maybe we'll see Santa at the Downer Christmas Street fest or maybe we'll go to New York for the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade (unlikely, but I know Santa makes an appearance!), or Bass Pro Shop, or maybe even the crowded mall...enjoy the pictures!