Christmas is Victoria - Evan's Santa Visit

Early in our trip, I made sure Evan got to visit the Santa Claus at Mayfair Mall. Evan had his pictures done last year at the same mall and I was so impressed with the Santa and with the quality of the pictures, I wanted to do the same thing again this year.

On December 22, my parents, Evan and I headed to Mayfair Mall for noon - when Santa's castle opened for business. When we got there, we were greeted by a line-up and no Santa yet. While my dad held our spot in line, Evan and I wandered around Santa's castle looking at the wonderful display. We headed back to our spot in line when we saw Santa walking down the mall towards the castle. But he didn't go straight to his throne...instead, Santa went down the line-up greeting all the children that were waiting patiently in line. When Santa came to us, Evan told him his name and that his was "two". The line-up moved pretty quickly, with mall staff offering refreshments.

I have taken Evan for Santa pictures every year, and every year I expect him to cry, scream or melt-down. The first time I took him, he wasn't even 3 months old. He didn't cry, but he kept turning himself to see me. The second time I took him to see Santa was the very same day I took him for his first haircut. He just sat on Santa's lap like it was no big deal. I thought for sure this would be the year that Evan would cry or be shy. Nope. When it was Evan's turn, without help from me, he just marched up to Santa and got in his lap. No fuss. No tears. After a few pictures were taken, Santa had a little chat with Evan about smiling. While Evan looked up at him intently, Santa told him that "if you smile, ice cream winds up in your mouth, but if you don't, it winds up down your chin." After a few more pictures, Santa gave Evan a Sun-Rype Fruit Snack and sent him on his way. Here is Evan with our favourite Santa: