Lydia Grace Barron and Molly Joy Barron

It's a right of passage, right? And we're making a memory? It's a special experience? And...it's worth it? These are the words Oliver and I recited over and over to one another as we waited in line at the Galleria for Lydia to meet Santa Claus for the first time. 45 minutes and $25 later we got a shot of Lydia looking like she was just barely hanging on... She was ready for a nap. She had been awake all morning, after all, and our sweet girl waited so patiently for her turn to meet Santa. Finally, it was her turn and of course having no idea what the point of all of this was, but enjoying the pretty lights and colors, she humored us and didn't have the total meltdown that some of the other kids had. She didn't exactly smile her most precious smile, but as I said at the top of the post, it's a right of passage, we made a memory, it was a special experience, and it was worth it.

While I made goofy faces at her in an effort to make her smile (I was lovingly unaware of the other parents, the photographer and the people passing by. Ok, not really - I was very aware, but willing nonetheless), Oliver was busy taking pics with our own camera. He caught some cute expressions.

Here are a couple pictures of her waiting in line. Good thing there's always plenty of teething to do to pass the time.

After her picture, we went to Grand Lux Cafe for lunch (Mommy's favorite!) and Lydia finally got her nap. Then we went over to the ice rink and she seemed to really enjoy watching the ice skaters and the "country's tallest indoor Christmas tree". (I'm sure now she's bummed that ours is so short and boring by comparison.) Note: Along the right-hand column of our blog is a picture of Oliver and I standing in the exact same spot 2 years ago, the weekend we got married!

It was a fun day! Merry Christmas!