Santa Claus Success!

Yesterday my sis Katie and I decided to take our girls to the Christmas Show at the fair grounds in Salt Lake. We figured we could kill at least an hour there, and being free of charge, we figured it would be worth it. Little did we know Santa was going to be there! Now, last year we took Mariah to see St. Nick at Thanksgiving Point, and after a 2 hour long wait during which Mariah kept saying how excited she was to see Santa, she unfortunately lost all courage upon seeing the big scary man with all the hair and the big fluffy red outfit. Needless to say, no pictures with M and Santa were worth publishing last year. Fast forward one year, and here we were, in front of the big man himself, without ANY wait. Now was the time. Mariah slowly, hesitantly, left the safe clutch of my hand, and willed herself forward to this right-of-passage moment. The moment all kids simultaneously fear and anticipate, the moment where the man who holds the key to your very happiness in his hands is there for one brief second to hear what you want, no NEED, in order to live a fulfilling and worthwhile existence...Take a deep breath, don't show your fear, and then out came the words, "Santa, can I please want a little dolly house?" There, I have done it!!!! Now it is up to him. But just in case he needs a little persuading, I will give him a big hug. Oh, and this couldn't hurt, "Here Annie, have some candy Santa gave to me!" There, that outta seal the deal! Dolly house here I come!!!! Needless to say, our free excursion was definitely worth it right Kate?!?!?!? Don't worry, next year will be Annie Frannie's right of passage...