We took Annie to meet Santa Claus last weekend at the clubhouse in my parents' fancy schmancy neighborhood. We had a great time watching all the other kids coming up the stairs, smiling at Santa on their way to the room with cookies and animal crackers, waiting in line, and having complete meltdowns when they approached Santa to sit on his lap. Complete meltdowns.
So it was pretty funny to watch, except that all the crying finally started to unsettle Annie, and it was also like having a window into the future. Besides, Annie has not been particularly thrilled about being held by strangers lately, so we started to get more and more nervous the longer we waited.
Things started out pretty well. We hadn't tried to dress her up in frilly clothes or make her wear the (super cute) bows or santa hat that Grandma brought along. The following is a recitation of what I believe Annie was thinking throughout the morning.
Annie: This is pretty cool. Grandma and Grandpa are here, and Grandpa seems very excited by those little crackers shaped like animals. It is a beautiful day and there are lots of big kids to watch. I wonder why Mommy looks worried?
Annie: Okay, what exactly is going on here? The big kids are screaming like this is the flu shot clinic. Am I about to get a shot? I was told I wouldn't need any more shots until my 12 month visit to the doctor.
Annie: You may be walking me backwards over to the big crazy man, but I know whats going on. Just because I can't see him doesn't mean I can't tell that he's back there. And why did Daddy take my socks off? It's December, and even if it is 70 degrees, it is supposed to at least LOOK cold.
Annie: Grumps, what are you doing here?! I thought you were still in England! What, you're not my Grumps? Well you look like him, so you must not be too bad.
So we hightailed it out of there with nary a tear shed. (And doesn't Annie look cute in the sweater I wore when I was a baby?) Victory!
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