Santa & Ward Christmas Party

Dakota has loved the Christmas season so far. She rocks the baby Jesus from our Nativity and tries to share her binky with him and give him kisses. I think she is going to be a good big sister. She also loves all the Christmas lights and anything to do with Santa. She learned pretty quick to say "ho-ho-ho" anytime she sees a Santa or hears his name. She's now started to say "ho-ho-ho" for anything related to Christmas like lights or trees. She really enjoys singing Santa Christmas songs as well and makes my mom sing to her over the phone pretty much every time they talk.

SOOO... we were excited to take her to see Santa for the first time. We went to the mall this morning and it did not go well. Doug immediately tried to put her on his lap and she arched her back and screamed bloody murder. So, I tried holding her and sitting next to Santa and she wanted nothing to do with him. She wouldn't even look in his direction. We walked around the mall for a while and got her some candy at the machines to brighten her mood and as we headed back to the car, she pulled us in the opposite direction of Santa b/c she didn't want to go anywhere near him. We kinda thought it was funny. We'd ask her if she wanted to go see Santa again and she'd yell "Nooooo!"


Later in the evening we attended our ward Christmas party. They had a ventriloquist for entertainment and the kids loved him. Dakota pretty much ran around the gym the whole party and at some point we lost track of her. When I finally spotted her, she was sitting amongst the other kids watching the show. Our neighbor said she just made her way into the crowd of kids, found a spot and sat down. :) This was very surprising to me.



The entertainment also sang some songs and played some banjo music and Dakota got up and danced to it. This is our favorite video of her doing a little hoe-down dance. She just cracks us up these days!

Santa also came to visit the party and this time Dakota was very interested but still didn't want to touch him or get too close. She just wanted me to hold her and stand right by him. Every time I tried to walk away, she'd say "more, ho-ho-ho" so we stood there for quite a while. But if you asked her if she wanted to sit on Santa or see him, she'd give you a scowling look and turn her head away in a "no" motion. Maybe if we see Santa one more time, she will be willing to sit on his lap now that is finally adjusted to the idea of a real- life Santa.