Merry Christmas Everyone!

As we enter December I start to think of all the Christmas' past and how much the girls have grown. They don't wake up at 4am begging to see what Santa brought. Now they sleep till 7 or so and go right back to bed after opening presents. We have gone from staying up all night to build toys, bikes, and playhouses to setting out nicely wrapped gifts under the tree, mainly because gift certificates and video games don't require assembly. I am reminded of the best Christmas Story ever! Its sort of long but I will give you the shortest version I can....

Shelby has never believed in Santa, possibly when she was 2 and didn't really get the whole Santa thing, but in reality has NEVER thought he or the Tooth fairy or the Easter bunny were real.
Sooooo a few years back, and me being the mom I am decided to prove to her he was real!
I had a lady in my Yoga class who's husband was Santa at the local mall (she played Mrs. Clause)
He was the real deal, real old, real white hair, real long white beard etc. So she told me to just write down a few things about each of my girls that only us and "Santa" could know. Easy enough...done.
I then let her know when we would be visiting the mall to see Santa and she would have Santa mention of few of these things to the girls. Score! or so I thought.
We go to the mall, wait in line for an hour, and when we get to the front of the line I pull my camera out so I can take a picture of the girls on Santa's lap and possibly Shelby's face!
The Elf in charge then begins to tell me I can't take my own picture....WHAT? I have taken my own picture for the last 12 years I tell her. She continues to raise her voice and tell me I have to buy a picture..."NO PERSONAL PICTURES" she shouts! As the scene escalates because my girls are getting on Santa's lap while I argue with the Elf that I am not putting my camera away and all 100 people in line are dead silent watching...Santa stands, and demands to know
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!". He helps my girls off his lap and heads towards the Elf and tells her "She is taking the DAMN picture with her own camera".
The Elf then starts into Santa telling him the "rules" to which he tells her "I am Santa and I makes the rules".
Well I got my pictures...but as far as Shelby believing, she couldn't wait to tell everyone at school that Santa swears and really does tell the elves what to do.
I learned my lesson...and now Shelby believes or disbelieves anything she wants!
We hope you have a very Merry Christmas!