last year i had planned for the predictable screaming on santa’s lap photo, but then my 3 children surprised me by being reasonable. thinking that i must just be blessed with reasonable children, i got them all dressed in nice clothes and headed out for this year’s perfect santa photo. (i did not take my own advice from last year’s blog post.)
little did i know it would be even more perfect than i imagined.
we arrived at the mall early since i knew there would be a line.
kieran spotted the tree and the lights and with fat pointing fingers began to giggle and happily try to tell us all about it…
then someone in front of us moved, clearing the line of sight directly to the big guy and kieran went silent and all shades of red and purple. the mall got eerily quiet all of a sudden as the air was sucked into some sort of toddler vortex of terror and he began to scream. (photo one below)
proving that last year was indeed a fluke and i indeed do not have reasonable children, kieran got picked up and held. by me. and the camera went to alec. (photo two below)
clover saw santa and was fine. i figured i would just hold kieran in the back, get the shot taken and off we would go. as soon as we got close though, kieran started cranking up the volume (in case there was someone in the mall who had not heard that his parents were making him sit for a photo with santa) and that triggered clover’s twin empathy button. the only way this thing was going to happen was if alec sat with clover.
in the photo.
now alec does not sit for photos so i was ready to just throw in the towel. then a small miracle happened. alec not only sat down, but he smiled.
and i have proof! and my very own small christmas miracle.
merry christmas! i hope you all have a wonderful day with peaceful, happy hearts.
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Go Alec! And Congrats on the Christmas Miracle. =)
Though I must say, the camera does look good on him.
perfect.
Love it-what a beautiful family! That 1st picture made me tear up, as I have a fat fingered little pointer myself.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!!
So nice to see you all together. Poor little guy, such red teary eyes. Have a great day tomorrow.
This is perfection! Merry Christmas to you & yours.
LOVE it. I can't stand Santa photos, (says the mother of a 3 year old that has yet to suck it up and taken her kid to meet Santa *shudder*) but this one makes me smile. Because this one? Is awesome.
Things this post has taught me and/or reminded me of
1) You are BEAUTIFUL. (And skinny. I hate you a little bit.)
2) Gemma looks EXACTLY like Alec.
3) Clover looks exactly like you.
4) Kieran looks like a mix of both of you.
5) Your family is beautiful.
6) I want to raid your closet.
you are too funny! thank you.
haha… how cute! That is a great photo! It's all about creating a memory here. I took Siena to see Santa. She is 9 months, and I thought she would be scared and cry. Surprisely, she didn't cry, she just stared at Santa for a while, and then grabbed his bell, and ring the bell the whole time. That was so funny! You just never know what to expect with kids!! Wish you all have a wonderful Christmas!!
Cute picture story. The last picture made me tear up. What a lovely family photo.
Oh yay! Christmas miracles do happen!
Merry Xmas to you all
I was wondering what was going to transpire this year 
Thanx a mil for sharing!!
Lol, you can't say you get bored with this kids. They must be tons of fun
And that picture of you and your family with santa is really cute 
I wish you the best 
I hope you have a merry Christmas and a very happy beginning of 2010
xoxo.♥
cute!! congrats to you alec for being a great sport! poor kieran and clover
funny/classic santa picture though!
merry christmas to you and your family!
God I love reading your posts they seriously give me a pick me up. Love it. thanks for sharing
thank you!
OH MY GOD Alec smiled call the newspapers.LOL. Anyway I love the look on Gemmas face,like in the one wear Kieran is crying she is like ''OMG I hope santa doesn't know I am with the crying kid''.
so cute – even through the tears
hahaha. I cannot stop laughing. My favourite part is the nikon strap around alec's neck. Clover and kieran's identical expression and honestly, the santa looks like hes about to smack the next person who sits on his lap
best christmas photo ever!
Lovely. I especially enjoy Alex holding that D3. I'm still working on getting the husband to carry and be comfortable using mine.
I just loooove the first picture.
You have a wonderful family.
Regars from Uruguay ( It`s summer here, also)
Have a Merry and Warm Christmas!
Once again great Rachel! You are so darn beautiful! Love love love the first photo with his sweet little hand.
alec is adorable as are you and your children. thanks for sharing your life through the blog and your photos. they are such a true inspiration! Merry Christmas!
way to go alec! i just love you guys!! Have a ridiculously merry christmas.
Best story ever! And the family picture looks great. Merry Christmas!
FUNNY..I about died laughing…Sounds like a wonderful Christmas miracle to me…
By the way, I agree with Torrie I hate you just a little bit too.
I want your shoes, and your killer bod…I lost mine on kid #6, and it is NOT coming back..
Merry Christmas and god bless you and your family..
one more reason for me to stop having kids at 3! merry christmas!
Oh, how charming! I love it!
I never cried on santa, but I did pee on him!
I was a december baby so I was potty training around christmas time
and when dear old santa held me on his lap I proudly smiled and let it all out!
What a beautiful picture to record your miracle, too! SO worth it all
Bless you all, have a very Merry Christmas!
beautiful…. you are so lucky to capture a family photo with santa…..hugs for the twins! have a gorgeous day with them tomorrow. merry christmas!
soooooooooooo cute!!
Merry Christmas Devine Family
soooooooooooo cute!!
Merry Christmas Devine Family
At least the twins Bun-E's got into the photo too. Love it. MKC from Ohio
Cute and funny
Merry Christmas!!!
I love the story and the picture. So great you get to have a picture with the whole family.
Santa must have been scary to the twins.
Gemma is rocking Christmas this year!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays (:
what a great story! love that the nikon made it in the shot too! : ) Merry Christmas from the States!
Awrh! Precious family moment, Rachel. I’m glad you finally got a photo like that.
Merry Christmas! Oh, and, again, tell miss Gemma I said hello!
A lovely photo so well done all This is so much like our own experience this year (I ended up sitting on Santa's lap and Santa and I are the only ones smiling. One child is tear-stained and one looks terrified).