The McClendons: Fun with Friends

We enjoyed some Christmas festivities with friends this year. We visited Santa at a tree lighting ceremony in Murphy, attended playgroup at the Barretto's, many parks etc. Here are some pics that we wanted to share...

One funny story. When we attended the Murphy Tree Lighting Ceremony we arrived just before Santa did. It was exciting - the boys could hear the fire engine's sirens (Santa arrived hanging on to the side of the engine) and were sooooo excited. Jonah looked at me and said, "MOM - It's SANTA!!!!" With all of the commotion (Creed crying due to the sirens, Carson and Madeline running to see Santa on the fire truck, Jonah jumping up and down and me fumbling for my camera), I lost sight of Jonah. Santa was making his way to the Christmas tree where there was a long line waiting already to sit in his lap. I'm looking through the sea of people, shouting Jonah's name. After a few attempts I started to panic. I asked the other moms to keep an eye on Creed and Carson and I set out to find Jonah. I wound through the line looking at all of the little kids frozen faces, none of which belonged to my sweet curly-headed boy! As I reached the front of the line, I see Jonah walking towards me from Santa. I said, "Jonah sweetie where did you go? Mommy couldn't find you and I was scared." He said, "Mom, but it's SANTA!" And there you have it, a little boy's mystical view of the man in a red suit at Christmas time. Oh to be young again! A reporter followed Jonah up to me and said, "Is this your little boy? What's his name? He just followed Santa straight to his seat and plopped right down in his lap, bypassing the line of people. We'd like to put his picture in the paper." Needless to say, we never saw his picture in the paper, but this story is one I will never forget! :)