About last night

I went to my Mom's house yesterday for dinner. I got the kid's all bundled up and we left the house around 4:30pm. She was making Jacob's favorite casserole for dinner. We couldn't miss that. After sitting in traffic for an hour, we finally got there.

We had a nice dinner with Adda. Adpa wasn't feeling well. He now has the crud that we all had last week. He was feverish and laid on the sofa while we were there. I felt so bad for him because I know how yuck that crud is. I was just praying that we were far enough away from him that we wouldn't recatch it. Still praying.

After dinner we went to see Christmas lights. Every year we go to a State school out by my parents and look at the displays. We've done it since I was a child and have carried the tradition over to my children. This is the first year that Jacob would be able to depict each and every character and theme set up out there. So, we drove through and watched my two year old declare "Pooh!", "Batman!", "Micky Mouse!". I drove about 15 MPH so he could enjoy each and every display. He was in heaven.

As we drove we built up the fact that Santa was there and that we'd stop to see him. Of course, Jacob was all game and kept asking where Santa was and when we'd see him, etc. We finally reached the shack where Santa was set up to visit with the kids. We pulled in and got out. Jacob ran immediately up to Santa and gave him a high five. He then stood there with his head hanging low, not making eye contact and froze. The kid froze. He was like a child in his first Christmas pageant with stage fright. Santa went on and on about toys, gifts, his sleigh, cookies and milk and Rudolph and Jacob stood staring at the floor never looking up at him. Santa finally cajoled him into sitting on his lap. Jacob sat there looking ever so scared. The key being, he sat there. He really did great considering I had pictured him freaking out, running off, crying, scared for his life. He did not do that. He was scared, but contained himself.

He definately takes after his father. All my pictures with Santa leading up to school age I was crying. I hated Santa. I think I thought about that scary man in January all the way to December. Would my Mom torture me and make me sit in his lap again? Ha! Really though, I was scared of him and did not contain my fear.

We left the State school. Jacob with candy cane treat in palm. Adda with a huge smile on her grill. Me, proud. I was so proud of that little brave guy. I can't tell you how proud I was. Me, proud. Beaming. Sigh. Motherhood around the holidays is delightful.