OcalaMom.com

Will you take your child to see Santa? Any funny stories from visits in years past?

Last year we went w/ a playgroup to the mall to see Santa (and were a bit disappointed b/c the Santa from the previous year when I took the dogs and Jodi -- separate times, lol -- was so authentic looking and last year's was not.) Jodi wanted nothing to do w/ it. She just shook her head when I asked and said, "Oh no." Not like an -- "eek! I'm scared type" of oh no -- more like "I don't think so, lady."

Though we were at a conference in October and we got off the elevator. Jodi turned to the guy on it -- he looked a little Santa-ish -- and said, "Bye Santa. Have a good day, Santa." Then she just moved along. He and his wife laughed all the way over to the restaurant.

Evertime we go to the mall I would LOVE to get my daughter sitting on santa's lap, but the line seems to be neverending!!! & really dosen't move fast. I guess we might be better going during the week rather tahn the w/e. I had her to see santa when she was 1 1/2 years old & she didn't like it at all. her legs we straight out, crying her little eyes out & the friend I was with said I should have another picture taken, I said NO WAY! I LOVE this pisture!!

You could try Santa on the downtown square...when we went the lines weren't bad at all and it is free...just take your own photo.

When is santa on the square? Dates or times?

We have taken Makily to the mall every year to get her pic with Santa.

Last year her pre-k class went to the mall and they did their pictures like that. It was a great field trip and the picture turned out AWESOME! The mall usually has two different Santa's. One is DEAD ON Santa and the other one creeped my sister out once so we try and get pics with the "good" one! LOLOL

We go every year. We used to go to the Oaks Mall in Gainesville, because the Santa was perfect...looks just like the Santa you imagined as a kid. But, since little man was born, we just didn't want to drive that far with a 10 month old (1 hour each way from our house in SE Ocala), so last year we had the pic done at Ocala mall...just not the same. Dude looks kind of creepy. We may drive to Gainesville this year, but not sure if the same Santa is still there, or not. I've got 3 years worth of Santa pix with the Gainesville Santa, and 1 with Ocala Santa. So, if I drive all the way to Gainesville, and it's a different Santa, I'm not going to be happy. Anyone familiar with the Gainesville Santa that I'm talking about? If so, do you know if he's still around? My little man is NOT going to like it this year (he's 21 months old, and takes awhile to warm up to everything new), so we're going to have to hang around with Santa for a couple of hours until he gets familiar with him, or he's going to freak out...even with big sister helping to "show" him how it's done. LOL

Oooh -- I don't know abotu the Gville one. I can ask some friends up there.
The one last year here was definitely kinda not Santa looking and NOT child friendly. Didn't even make an effort to talk to them (watched the other kids w/ us go.) I was not about to make an attempt to bring the dogs separately to see that one b/c I didn't see him being friendly to dogs all excited about being in a strange colorful place. Hopefully this year there is a more Santa-looking Santa! Funny how we all noticed that, lol.

I think we may skip Santa b/c I don't see Jodi willingly doing it and do Picture People in Gainesville. She has a precious silky dress for Christmas from Gymboree and I found this really pretty old-fashioned looking peppermint giant circular lollipop for her to hold/eat in the pic. Think it will be perfect!

Santa on the Downtown Square
Tuesdays & Thursdays 6-8pm (Dec. 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, and 18). There will be hayrides, music and refreshments for the whole family.

I didn't even know you could bring your dog to the Santa in the mall!?!?!?!?! I could just see our yellow lab - he'd take Santa's beard and pull it off, slober all over him, and leave a pile of yellow hair all over this nice red suit! That wouldn't go too well at all! In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a dog in any of the lines when we've been waiting to see Santa. Maybe I was just too focused on my little ones, and being worried they would cry...

Thanks, Elizabeth.

My daughter went to paddock mall with her friend & they saw santa who isn't the best santa I've seen or the worst. This is the 2nd picture in 8 yeras that i have of her with santa, I think after the 1st pic at 1 1/2 yrs it freaked her out alittle.

quote:

Originally posted by KaelinandDylansMom:
I didn't even know you could bring your dog to the Santa in the mall!?!?!?!?! I could just see our yellow lab - he'd take Santa's beard and pull it off, slober all over him, and leave a pile of yellow hair all over this nice red suit! That wouldn't go too well at all! In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a dog in any of the lines when we've been waiting to see Santa. Maybe I was just too focused on my little ones, and being worried they would cry...

Thanks, Elizabeth.

Not every day -- there are two weekend evenings, I think, where you can bring your dog in. Maybe it was 2 different Saturdays from like 6-9 or something like that?
We have 2 cockers and I've taken them both at the same time -- interesting, but they were so much better behaved w/ Santa then I thought - they both sat on his lap together for the pic! It's cute.

We go every year. I have a pic of my kids with Santa every year except Micah's first Christmas. He was only a week old, and I wasn't taking him out that early.

I have to get the kid's outfits for their pic this year.

Here is their pic from last year.

What a beautiful picture. Your kids are adorable!!!

Awww, thanks. I think they're pretty cute, too.

Delaney wouldn't smile. We got this little smirk from her, and I was lucky to get that. LOL

they are cuties!!