Santa

We went to visit Santa for the first time this year. Sabine has been anticipating this for a while, we talk about Santa a fair amount, but she is also going through a bit of a fearful phase. Our normally independent girl is just a little clingier than usual, so we weren't sure how the actual encounter would play out.

We decided to make a day out of it, and went to see Santa in downtown Denver.

There was a bit of a line, but it actually worked out well because Sabine was able to observe and warm up to the whole process as we watched other kids go before us. (That's her in daddy's arms on the left.)



As we got closer, there was even a large nutcracker, which, as far as Sabine was concerned, was a good omen. She's into nutcrackers this year. (Perhaps we'll try the ballet next year?)



Mrs. Claus came out to see if she was ready, and I thought Mrs. Claus was wonderful, very warm and gentle. She suggested I just go ahead and sit with Sabine when we went to visit Santa, which worked out well. We didn't realize there wasn't a photographer, so the only pictures we got were on my phone, but you can still see pretty well.

Sabine was a little shy at first, but Santa gave her a snowboarding duck, and she warmed up.



To the extent he got a high-five AND a fist-bump. And Sabine also managed to ask for two presents. (A Doc McStuffins doll and doctor gloves, like her friend has. Like, laytex gloves. At least that should be easy enough for Santa to fulfill, odd though it may be?)



We then walked around downtown and admired the lights and ate at a restaurant. All in all, a fun day.