Another Thursday has rolled around, and it’s time once again for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop. The prompt I chose this week is:
4.) Santa of Christmas Past. Share the previous years’ Santa photos…what has changed over the years?
As far as I know, there was never a picture taken of me with Santa, so my post today is about Marshall’s visits with St. Nick.
I had plans to have a picture taken of Marshall each year with Santa. Since he was born in June, he was six months old for his first Christmas. At that age, little ones are rarely afraid of Santa, so getting the first Santa picture was a snap. (Get it? Snap?)
There was a slight problem with getting the Santa Picture for Marshall’s second Christmas. To begin with, as an eighteen-month old, he was not at all happy to be placed on Santa’s lap. But, since I still had this notion of getting a Santa Picture each Christmas, I told the photographer (as Marshall was screaming and crying) to just take the picture anyway. Remember, this was before digital photography, so the photos were mailed to you a few days later. But, instead, I received a notice that there had been a problem with the film, so there was no picture.
After that, I wasn’t quite as intent as before on getting a picture of Marshall and Santa every Christmas.
The Christmas that Marshall was 2 1/2, he was okay with Santa so we have a picture from that year.
We skipped a few years, and the next Santa picture was taken when Marshall’s first-grade class went to Miller and Rhoads Department Store in Richmond to see THE REAL SANTA. And, judging from the looks of Marshall’s poor little arms, apparently THE REAL SANTA had quite a grip.
So even though we only have three pictures of Marshall with Santa, those three are treasures. Every Christmas, they’re placed on a table in our foyer, still in their vintage metal frames.
these days of mine 
Perfect. Since we were in France when my kids were little, we never did the Santa photo ~ I love these! I just edited some “twas the night before christmas” photos of the kids with my husband…made them look a bit vintage…to put in some pretty frames at Christmas time. Your pictures look so lovely in your front hall.
Each of these is just precious! Such fond memories to brighten up your holiday decor!
Such cute photos of a now handsome man. We took Laura every year to see THE REAL SANTA in Richmond and have all the pictures in a frame. We had lunch with Santa and his princess and she shopped in the gift shop for only little ones. Such special memories.
What a perfect set of three pictures to greet people at Christmastime.
These pictures are great, but more importantly….what a precious little boy!
You are making me feel better about missing some years with Santa….we had a really bad/cheap picture done last year…..and none this year (budget too tight). I was feeling melancholy and sorry for my littlest ones since the older kids have all had pictures with Santa when they were little. But I see now it is okay to take some time off….Santa will be there next year and will have a death grip on my kids arms!!!
Marshall was such a sweet boy and has grown to be a fantastic man. Sure looks as if Santa is afraid he’ll run away in that last photo. That grip is enough to make children afraid to sit on his lap!!
cute! but i can’t imagine the disappointment that was spread around town on that 2nd Christmas. no film? yikes!
Sweet memories……..
OK now I feel bad. I’ll have to search for my boys pictures with Santa. Your pictures are adorable.
I’m happy with these 😉 We’ve all seen the videos and pictures of the kids who REALLY didn’t want to get any closer to Santa .. I still have a few memories from the trip to see THE REAL SANTA at Miller & Rhoads .. but I sure don’t remember that grip !!
I think that’s pretty neat that you display all three this time of year. Great idea. I never got Jake’s picture with Santa…Well unless we count the year I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with him and I was in a picture with a friend dressed up as Santa! 😉
~d.
How wonderful that you have THREE – some people have ZERO! I have only one photo of me with Santa….perhaps I’ll dig that out and post it in Sam’s blog tomorrow. I look terrified. 😦 I think it’s great to include Marshall’s Santa pix in your decorating scheme every Christmas…..a super personal touch!
Pam
Such a nice idea displaying your son’s photos with Santa! Makes me want to go search out photos of my three kids and the jolly ol’ fellow. Oh wait, there’s baking to do and presents to gift-wrap and a house to clean….maybe next year. Or after Christmas when all the kids go back home? 😉
Very, very nice to have these photos! And that little fellow sure looks like his mother!
…aw look at that handsome lil guy!
My favorite is the last one .. the arms! 🙂
Sweet post, MJ
Aww, your intentions are all that matters. Love that you shared these photos and still put them out every year – I think that’s a fabulous idea!
I love the pictures of Marshall. It’s wonderful you put them out at Christmas.
Fun memories.