Visiting Santa

We went to get our yearly picture with Santa today.  We figured that the line wouldn't be long at 12 noon on a Monday, but we were wrong.  I guess everyone else had the same idea.  We waited over an hour in line but the kids did great since we fed them lunch in their stroller while we were waiting in line.  The whole time we were in line, Stella kept saying that she was on the "nice list" and that she was going to ask Santa for a big girl bike when it was her turn. 
So our turn finally came and I put Stella on Santa's lap; she resisted a little bit because she was shy.  She wanted me to sit on Santa's lap so that she could sit on my lap.  Des didn't cry but wasn't too thrilled about sitting on Santa's lap.  After I placed him on Santa's lap, I went to stand by the photographer and when Des saw me, I heard him say,"There's Mama" several times in a way to tell himself that everything is okay because Mama is just right there.  So sweet!!!  He had that "deer caught in the headlights look" to his face the whole time and did not want to smile for the picture, whatsoever.  He wanted us to get it over with ASAP. 

Stella was very sad after we finished taking pictures with Santa b/c she thought Santa was going to give her her big girl bike right then and there.  She really, really wants the bike and she was trying to hold it together afterwards but her lips were quivering and her eyes welled up.  We had to explain that Santa was getting his list ready today but will bring her gift to her on Christmas day.  But since we will be in NJ for Xmas, we are going to give it to her tomorrow morning prior to leaving for NJ for the holidays, telling her that Santa left her an early Christmas present.