On Saturday morning we got up earlyish, made our way into the city to get to the Magic Cave to see Santa hopefully before too many other people. We arrived not that long after 9am and there was already a largish queue so I resigned myself to waiting our turn.
We were soon approached by a girl asking if we wanted to purchase photos of JJ visiting Santa. With my camera slung around my neck in readiness to do it myself, I told her I would take my own photos. When I last took JJ to see Santa there four years ago I was allowed to do just that. The rules have changed now – you have to buy photos if you want one with Santa. At about $22 for 2 photos I thought it was a bit steep. I’d rather put this towards his christmas present or towards that present we’re going to buy for a kid less fortunate for JJ, than towards the Magic Cave coffers. I understand they have to pay their ‘Santas’ and their helpers but it’s not like we spent absolutely nothing there and everyone else who purchased their photos more than pays everyones salaries I’m sure.
I thought I’d get some sort of clue as to what JJ wants for christmas but he was characteristically quiet with a complete stranger. He was probably completely in awe of seeing Father Christmas so hardly said a word.
Afterwards we queued yet again so he could have a ride on Nimble – one of the 2 christmas pageant horses and then we took some snaps in front of the fun mirrors.
We bought some fairy floss which I didn’t allow him to eat until we got home and I could contain the effects of all that food colouring within my four walls. Even without this, he was very excited so I didn’t even bother trying to do any christmas shopping.
Ohhhh JJ….how cute is that? That distorted mirror one is a hoot! So, no hints from JJ huh? He clammed up when he finally got to see the BIG MAN, huh? DRATS! So did my granddaughter, Bella Jen. She had all kinds of things she wanted to say to him..and when she finally got to sit on his lap…ZILCH! He asked her what she wanted for Xmas…and she said “Whatever.” When just minutes before she had a list as long as her arm of what she wanted for Xmas. I guess St. Nick can be pretty intimidating for these little ones sometimes…what a riot.