Life with Lotus Maria and Lucian Stone

We have had two disastrous Santa visits with Lotus. Last year we didn't even make it to Santa's lap. She waited in line to see Santa, but in the end she lost it and we had to run off. I mean I can't really blame her, we tell her to beware of strangers and then we push her towards an older gentleman she doesn't know and say sit on his lap and smile.

This year I suggested we send him a letter, but as the idea of Santa became clearer she decided that she wanted to tell him face to face her Christmas wants. And since her list was so sweet I really wanted her to be able to tell him.

We went to the mall mid-week so there was no line and she just hopped up on his lap and told Santa that she wanted a rocking chair, a baby bottle and a tiny Clifford the red dog doll. She then smiled sweetly and we got this awesome photo.

Later on I realized we hadn't really told Lotus the full Santa story when my friend Laurie asked Lotus where Santa lived and she responded "The mall." Obviously there were a few blanks Nate and I needed to fill in.