Visiting Santa, take 2

I wanted Julia to get to see Santa too, so I dressed up the girls this past Saturday and we took them to see him.  Here's a pic:

I had to bribe Clara with a juice box to get her to sit on his lap and Julia couldn't do anything but stare at the ceiling fan.  And here's one of all four of us.  Clara was pretty freaked out by this point, but hanging in there:

Our friend Camille texted Quincy in the morning saying they were waiting in line to see Santa at a local mall.  The Santa we saw is a well-kept secret because there is hardly any line.  We let them in on the secret and Camille, Ryan and Chance, their five month old, came and met us.  We had lunch at a new restaurant.  No dishes were broken, nobody started screaming, everybody ate and no one spilled anything.  It was a GIANT success!  We were so excited to get to spend some time with our friends.

Sandy Hook Elementary

My heart is absolutely broken over the news of the tragedy.  The worst part to think about is all of the moms who have done Christmas shopping and now their children will not be with them on Christmas.  I wept when I saw a mom interviewed who said that her daughter had asked for cowboy boots, so now she has little cowboy boots and no little feet to fill them.  The last verse of Away in a Manger provides great comfort:

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there

Grief is such a personal, non-linear journey, and I do not pretend to know how difficult it is and is going to be for these families to grieve their children's deaths while the whole world watches.  May God give them peace.

Not a Minute to Spare!

I seriously have no time in December.  And Quincy is gone for the next two nights on a work trip.  Seriously?  Who plans a work trip in December?  But, still, I want to document the goings-on so I don't forget.

I think it was August when Erica asked me if Clara and I wanted to go to Tea with Santa at the Umstead.  Yes!  Of course!  I only brought my phone, but here are a few pics:

Clara at the table.  Yes,I made her wear a bib.  She is 2 and they had hot chocolate!

After all of the kids sit on Santa's lap, he reads The Night Before Christmas.

Here's Clara and Soph with Santa.

Tea with Santa at the Umstead did not disappoint.  When we got there a few of the dancers from The Nutcracker were greeting the kids.  Then let us into the room,which was set up with place cards and pretty napkins and fine china.  There were homemade marshmallows and real whipped cream for the hot chocolate.  The adults were served four teeny tiny sandwiches and the kids three.  Ours were things like smoked salmon and cucumber and the kids had ham and cheese with the crusts cut off.  Then came the most heavenly desserts.  The adult hot chocolate had amaretto in it, which was amazing.  There was a harpist, which the kids thought was great.  Then they rang the bells and in came Santa!  Everyone got to sit on his lap and then he read The Night Before Christmas.  It really was fantastic.  I can't wait to be able to take Julia when she gets a little older.  This year she enjoyed leisurly napping at home with her Daddy.