The Santa Adventures Continue

For those of you following our annual tradition of searching for the "perfect" photo of Eliza and Santa, let me re-cap the past 6 years  before I unveil the 2012 (which personally may top the all time favorite, 2008)

The evolution of Eliza's relationship with Santa begins in 2006 (and for those of you concerned about the germ factor for the early years, I will tell you the secret and it isn't photoshop).

2006:   Fits in the palm of Santa's hand:

2007:   Deer in the headlights:



2008:  Abject terror and she leaps from Santa's lap (scaring the bejesus out of Santa):




2009:  Starting to think this isn't so bad, but certainly not talking to Santa:

2010:  Quite thrilled with the old guy and even chatted it up with Santa:




An added bonus for 2010, the Richter Cousins in their Ugly Sweaters:

2011:  The dynamic changed.  Eliza realized that Santa was the key to getting a Wii, and World Peace, so ingratiated herself to him by giving him a thumbs up to everything he had to say:

The Richter cousins also took a moment with Santa, sans Ugly Sweaters, but with oddly mismatched outfits:

And this brings us to 2012.  

Now at first you may be dismayed at this somewhat angelic photo of Eliza with Santa (but do not despair dear readers...).  Thanks to our secret knowledge of Santaland, Eliza was able to spend quite some time with Santa this year.  They chatted about her art work, her love of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and the merits of Kirby versus Ninjago.

Sweet, eh?

Santa invited the Richter cousins to sit and talk about world peace and love for a while and finished up asking Eliza to do a portrait of the two of them for him to pick up on Christmas Eve (a request she will oblige):

We took our leave of Santa and headed to the elves who will gladly give you photos from Santaland for a small donation.  

And before our eyes what wonders did appear!  

We didn't have Ugly Sweaters this year, or a wee child leaping from Santa's grip this year.  

Instead we discovered the "Give Me the Toys Old Man" photo:

Yes!  And here I thought we would break our tradition of spontaneously bad Santa photos!  I must say that Eliza's menacing glare is rivaled by that glint in Dana's eye which is sort of taunting Santa, as if to say "don't even dare disappoint this kid!"  And Peter smirking in his Santa hat, hinting that he can take over the old man's job should he fail t deliver because he already has the gear and can drive a mean sleigh.

Perhaps Santa was aware of Eliza's unlady-like sneer before he met up with us and was simply cowed into giving into Eliza's demands?  Perhaps he wasn't as sweet as we thought, but just scared to say no to Eliza?

Christmas Day will reveal if Santa "granted Eliza's wishes"  or "caved into her demands."

Merry Christmas one and all!