Continuing festivities

We have been continuing our Christmas festivities. Yesterday we went to the mall so that Zachary could get his picture taken with Santa. I'm a big fan of going as early as I can so that I do not have to stand in any sort of line. I'm not sure what's gonna happen when Zach's in kindergarten. I won't be able to go in the middle of the day any more. I'm sure I'll just plan a day that we go right after school. He'll surely be exhausted, but at 5 years of age I'm sure he'll be pretty excited to see him. There was only one year that he cried about having to sit on a strange mans lap. Last year and this year he was excited to go see him and he knew the routine this time around. When Santa asked Zach what he wanted Zach was ready to tell him. He wants a blue bullet train. It's actually a train that Zach has owned before but it's one of the three toys we have lost. I'm usually really good at keep track of toys we take into stores, but this day I have no idea what happened. We had gone to linen's and things and my assumption is that when he had to smell all the candles (which of course he HAS to) he probably set it down. His favorite are the tarts because he can pick them up since they are at his level and they don't have a lid. So, I told him that since he lost it, if he wants another one, he can ask Santa to bring him one for Christmas. He hasn't forgotten, and that was back in early October. Don't worry I already have it hidden in the closet. He really did like that train and I think he only owned it for about a month. So, back to our picture with Santa. I have no desire to pay for a professional picture because they are so dang expensive and they usually let you take your own picture. This year when Zach sat on Santa's lap and I said I was going to use my own camera the lady tells me, "That's fine, but I can only allow you to take ONE picture." WHAT?!?! ONE picture. That's silly. There wasn't even a line, but oh well. Tyler thinks they should charge like 5 dollars for you to take as many pictures as you want. Of course the one picture I took wasn't great. The lady offers for HER to try and see if she can get a good one and I was like it doesn't matter, I'm not gonna buy it and no matter what he's gonna look goofy. You'd think he interrupted say cheese for look cheesy. He smiles from ear to ear and squints his eyes. Luckily the picture I captured was not of that face, but it's still not a gem. I was wanting to go back and try again and I'm not sure if I even will. The voice of reason in our house reminded me that we will take another picture next year and that all his pictures with Santa are in some album that he never even looks at. Tyler often reminds me that boys aren't as sentimental as girls and that I shouldn't stress so much about some things. One day I'm sure that will click.

Santa looks good. We'll just call this picture Zach's awkward stage. All right, it's not THAT bad, but it could be better right?

Well, our mall experience was still adventurous otherwise. Zach got some new clothes from the Children's Place and I got myself in trouble at Gymboree. I love Gymboree though. Especially when you can find good deals. They always have the cutest clothes for boys and even cuter clothes for girls. I LOVE the new cupcake line. I'm gonna keep dressing Zach like a little boy for as long as I can even though I like when he dresses in really "cool" outfits as well.

Zach drove his stroller into the Disney Store. Seriously, he was pushing it instead of riding in it. I was on the phone with Jessica and I was trying to watch Zach while he was exploring the store. All of a sudden I couldn't seem him very well and I hear a noise that I didn't think I should hear. I step two steps and he has collapsed a present on the window display trying to get to a toy that was being shown in the window. He really wanted to play with that toy. I had to give him a talking too multiple times about not trying to climb back in the window. He refused to listen to most of them. He was being a little difficult. Luckily about 2 seconds later HE needed to go potty which worked out well for us to be able to exit the store. It's one of those it's a little funny at the time, but really funny now to think of him trying to climb into a window display to play with a toy. He's a mess. Oh and for those who were worried about the collapsed present I was easily able to fix it.