Santa's Lap

Since Trace and I did not go to the Christmas gift show this year due to me being really ill with some virus and sinus infection, we missed out on having Trace get his picture taken with the same Santa he has been posing with every year since he was born! I told him one day that we needed to go to the mall and if he'd like, we could see if the line was too long and if not, see about getting his picture taken with the Santa at the mall. He vacillated back and forth the entire time we were in line, but finally decided that he was okay to get his picture taken and tell Santa what he'd like for Christmas. He said to me just before we got to the front; "I think I might be too big to sit on his lap...." I told him he didn't have to, but when he got to Santa, the jolly old elf said; "Come sit here, young man, I've had many folks bigger than you on this lap of mine!" Trace then proceeded to tell Santa that the thing he wanted most was for his Mom to get better. Santa looked at me with a type of look that said; "You don't have any terminal illness do you?" and I told Trace that he was really nice to ask for that, but Mom and Dad were going to be just fine. Santa said he seemed like a smart boy and asked if he'd like a book for Christmas. Trace said "Yeah, I like science books." Then as almost an afterthought, he told Santa he really liked boats and Legos. Santa smiled and told him to have a good holiday. On our way out of the mall, there was a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and I made Trace pose for a few pictures of my own.