Santa, (Cry) Baby!

So, first, before I share pics of the great Santa Visit 2013, I have to say that I just browsed through the posts from this time last year (to remind myself of the glorious, smiley Santa Visit 2012), and now I'm simultaneously glowing and groaning as I'm faced with JUST HOW MUCH MY KID HAS GROWN!!!!!

Where has time gone, people???

And how is she getting bigger when I specifically told her NOT TO???

She needs to stay my iddy biddy, cuddly wuddly baby FOREVER!!!

Which can only mean I'm going to have to resort to more drastic anti-growth measures--like binding. Or large quantities of caffeine.

Anywho...

Santa. The big, red, jolly man. The visit happened today, and as the hubby and I predicted, it ended in tears. But before I show you the adorable tears, lemme show you a few pics leading up to it.

We went to the same mall as last year, since it had good mojo for us. But this year, we arrived right in the middle of Santa's cookie break, so we had to kill a few minutes.

So here's my little nugget in all her decked-out glory, checking out the water fountain and the cute four-year-old girls who we're trying to climb in it:

Excellent tippie-toes form, dontcha think?

I'm pretty sure she would've dived in head first had she been tall enough. Chica just loves a good fountain.

Alas, Santa came back from his break before she could manage an impromptu swim, so we headed back to the line to play in the little ice village they have set up in the area.

Here's Chica playing with the fake snow (excuse my blatant use of camera phone filters; I thought this one was pretty cool, given the environment, since it gave her an ethereal glow):

And here's Chica with Mama but this time, you'll have to excuse the blatantly strange cropping since I had to remove my cleavage and breastesses, which we're hanging out of my top without my knowledge:

And now (drumroll please), the pic you've all been waiting for:

Yep. She cried. Big, crocodile tears. Even when Mama tried to sit with Santa, too. She just wasn't having any of it. 

But, hey--can you blame the poor girl? Stranger danger, random red suit, half-a dozen peeps trying to get her to smile, and a mass of kiddoes waiting behind her in line.

It was bound to happen.

And, yes, I am most certainly biased, but I still think it's one freaking cute picture.

Happy Santa Day, peeps!