Stalking Santa

Alice is desperately excited about Christmas.  In fact, we spent one happy rainy morning in a department store in October, as she ran amok in the Christmas trim area, marvelling at the trees and froliking to the music of a dancing Santa.

It was to some consternation that Auntie Rosie, Juliet and I witnessed a fullscale meltdown at the feet of Father "Westfield" Christmas when we tried to get Alice's photo taken with him.  All agreed that I had failed to prepare Alice sufficiently well - she needs a few weeks' build up to these things.  We've therefore been talking about him ever since.

Yesterday was the annual Santa morning tea at daycare with all the parents and not just a few hangers on present.  Alice was wonderfully excited to have us all there and was uncharacteristically relaxed with all the adults around.  I guess she sees them all every day when they deliver their offspring, but it was nice not to have her hanging off my thigh.

Still a little shy when the big man appeared, she gained some courage when she discovered that the present was to be a Charlie and Lola book.

So emboldened was she that we managed to get a photo with the DJ Santa, coming to a Christmas card near you if you are a grandparent...