Ahhhh, we got in to see the man in red

Finally got THE shot! They told Santa they each want a “life-sized Mulan doll.” (Does that even exist? Gah!)

And just because I enjoy the trip through memory lane (although it actually hurts – seriously real pain – to see them growing before my eyes), here’s our collection of Santa shots, cut and pasted from older posts. Mouseover any pic to see who’s who.

2010 ~ 5 years old A peaceful Black Friday visit while every other soul in the mall was battling it out in the endless check-out lines, fighting for bargains in sweater departments that looked like they’d been bombed, and running through electronics stores seeking that elusive 75% off big-screen tv that was advertised. 

2009 ~ 4 years old Santa's the man. After two visits, Ro and Ree are satisfied to just wave to Santa as we walk by. They brought their stuffed animals on the last visit, because each girl wanted Santa to bring her a copy of her sister's toy, and they figured he needed a visual.

2008 ~ 3 years old

This was the year the girls finally decided that they loved Santa Claus. They were so infatuated that we had to visit Santa at every opportunity. I think the word "stalking" was bandied about:

Both girls were wearing their favorite shoes of the year in that last one.

2007 ~ 2 years old

Sorry Santa, the girls still aren't feeling the love. Pretty much a repeat of the first year. Except this year my mom and I brought lollipop bribes for afterwards, and then I dropped Ree's on the floor and it broke. Trauma on top of trauma. The girls still tell that story. Seriously.
 

2006 ~ 1 year old The first year. We had been home from China for about two months, and my dad and I decided on a complete whim to take the girls to see Santa. They were only on that lap for about three seconds, but it was enough time to make their feelings perfectly clear. Ree considered hanging in there for a millisecond... 

...but sister crying just pushed her over the edge. Best picture ever. At the time, my dad and I were traumatized, and couldn't get them off that lap fast enough. But now, well you know we just die laughing at this shot. 

Ho ho ho!