"Santa's Security"

Last night I took Ava and Archer to see Santa. Ava has already seen him at school this year, so this trip was really about Archer. I wanted my sweet baby boy to get his picture made with Santa for his first Christmas.

I didn't realize I was going to be so sentimental about this until I was getting ready to give Archer to Santa. At which time, the moment was ruined by "Santa's Security"!

There was no one waiting to have pictures made with Santa, so when we got there I wheeled the stroller right in. I told Ava to go ahead and talk to Santa. I grabbed my camera and put it around my neck, and then proceeded to unbuckle Archer and pick him up. At that exact time, I felt someone right behind me. This old "Mr. Roger's" looking man in a sweater was standing right behind me. He said, "You can't take any pictures with that camera."

I said, "Even if I'm buying one?"

He said, "No pictures."

My reply, "Well that sucks."

I know that wasn't the greatest response, but I was caught off guard. I wasn't that worried about not getting a picture on my camera, I was just excited to see how Archer responded to Santa.

Like I said, I was just trying to enjoy the moment and see his expression when I feel someone breathing down my neck. The man had creeped up behind me again, and in a not so nice voice said..."IF you take a picture with that camera, its going to be $20 a flash."

I was SO caught off guard AGAIN! I guess he thought I was still going to try and sneak a picture? The only reason it was still on my neck is because there wasn't any time to take it off...I was already holding Archer when he approached me the first time. It flew all over me, and just busted my bubble. The moment was totally ruined for me! I tried to get Archer to smile, but I was so flustered, I didn't even care anymore.

We got a decent picture, and I went to pay for it. While we were waiting for it to print, Ava had gotten in the stroller and picked up my camera. I didn't even realize she had picked up the camera, and when I glanced back I realized the man was standing right in front of her. It kind of creeped me out. He then looked at me and said, "I can't allow her to take any pictures of Santa."

Are you freaking kidding me?

She is 4 years old and not even close enough to get a decent picture if she wanted to. As if, I had a master plan to get the coveted picture of the man in white! I couldn't get out of there fast enough! The Santa was exceptionally santa-esque, but still not worth all of that! The last thing he said to me was, "I'm just doing job."

What a miserable man! His job is really to capture sweet moments with Santa, not to ruin them!