With Heather feeling so poorly we didn’t have a huge desire to take Annie to the mall and wait in a long line to meet Santa Claus. Annie, however, had other plans. The kid’s gone Santa crazy, and decided that meeting Santa would be especially awesome. So off to the mall we went to meet Santa… not once but twice!
Things didn’t go quite as we expected since Annie was the one who wanted to meet Santa in the first place, but hey… at least we got a “beautiful” photo out of the experience to cherish forever and ever.
MG says:
PRICELESS. Seriously. This should be sent in to somewhere for many to see. I love the video, the picture. I also have to say, that squeaky toy was hilarious, the things we do as parents hey? (not to be misinterpreted that I enjoyed seeing your daughter frightened and crying but it was so cute!)
Kayla says:
Annie and Santa Claus.
Year One: Stunned Silence.
Year Two: Utter Terror, Picture with Mom.
Year Three: Utter Terror, Picture with Dad.
Maybe for year four it’ll be a picture with Bampa!
Annalisa says:
Here’s an idea, if you haven’t tried this yet… tell Annie that Santa Claus is basically a version of Bampa who’s a grandfather to all children all over the world. It might help her get over her fear of the Jolly One!
Ray says:
If I’m correct: Another year with no love for Santa Claus. Lol!
Annie: “Just leave my presents under the tree, Santa. There’s no need for us to be cordial with one another in public.” =P
Belinda says:
I laughed so much at this because I have had the same experience this year…I put the photos on your facebook page.
Kat says:
Best part of the whole thing is definitely your mom’s face! I think I would have found it quite funny too, I like the fact they still printed you it out. Next years xmas card for sure!
Jenn says:
Poor little duck!! You can tell she REALLY wanted too see him but just couldn’t do it!! Maybe next yr will be the year!?!?! At least you got that awesome photo….even Annie is going to laugh at that one day! ha ha
Yay for Heather for making it to the mall twice….not an easy task for you, I know but you did it!!! YAHOO for YOU!!!
Have a great hopefully mall free weekend!!
Lilian says:
HAHAHAHA!! One word ….. AWESOME!!
Emye says:
I LOVE this!!!! I got a nice laugh out of this video… Reminds me of my own girls a few years back….. lol
It’s going to get better…. or not!!!! lol
Nikki says:
Ell oh ell
What a cutie! She’s always taking the world by storm that sometimes I forget she’s not even 3 yet! Still a baby! One that does not like Santa, hahaha!
Maybe next year!
karen says:
My friends daughter is TOTALLY terrified of Santa. Cos hes an old fat man who sneaks into your house in the middle of the night. She actually sets traps for him.
Needless to say this kid doesnt get anything from Santa!
Tracy says:
That is such a great photo! A classic!
cj says:
darling! she is beautiful, love that hair. hope santa still brings her everything that she wants!
Connie says:
I love how she is absolutely excited beyond excited, even waving to him (the first day) and then…BAM! The picture every kid takes at some point, but even crying Annie is cute. Now I’d be crying if you tried to make me sit with a clown, the Easter Bunny or a life size Elf on the Shelf (that sucker is soooooo creepy!).
FibbyC says:
Thank you for the belly-laugh this morning. That photo is amazing!
LD says:
This made my whole morning. :O)
Barb says:
bless her little heart! and bless you for trying a second time!
Mary says:
It’s too bad about the picture, but the fact that there’s nothing cuter than a little girl in Mary Janes makes up for it. Love her outfit.
Kristin says:
I’m laughing out loud at work. Too funny!
Mary says:
That was hilarious. I love that she said she liked the picture even though she was crying. Beautiful, sweet girl.
ColleenMN says:
My daughter NEVER liked seeing Santa. She tolerated him finally around 6, went a few years and then called it quits. I think live Santas are creepy. Annabel is obviously intellectually advanced…
Stacey T says:
HILARIOUS!!! I love how at the end she’s basically “Yep, I love that picture” THe picture is a classic!!!!!
Jill says:
Ahhhh! Love it. In the end Annie seemed just fine with the fact that she cried – like that is just how she rolls with Santa. Super cute.
Jen says:
We went through the exact same thing. Hilarious.
sandy north says:
love it! way to start my day with a laugh. As always thanks for sharing.
susanmig says:
is it horrible that i laughed while watching this?? classic, just classic. and the photo is sure to be brought out when she’s a teenager having melt downs.
thanks for the friday laugh!
Carol says:
The photo is CLASSIC! I swear I’m not a lunatic who delights in seeing children cry. I just love that the photo captures THIS Christmas with Annie at THIS age. I can’t wait to see next year’s Christmas photo with Annie smiling wide and showing her baby brother or sister how the big kids do it! Merry Christmas, Spohr family!
Erin Christine says:
This is amazing! That picture is just too cute:-)
Michelle says:
I love this! My niece is petrified of Santa (she’s four). This year she said “Aunt Michelle, I’m just going to FaceTime with Santa to tell him what I want”. Uh, okay tech kid.
Lisa says:
I LOVE that pic!! The crying on Santa’s lap photos are my fave! I was hoping we would get a good one when my daughter was 2. And we SO did, Santa had a tight grip on her to even keep her in his lap. The staff was looking at me like, do you really want to do this? I was like go for it, hang on tight Santa! Everyone thought I was evil, but it is hilarious to me. So I guess maybe I’m just evil, and so be it!
Lisa says:
HAHAHA! I love it! That pictures is PRICELESS!!!
Elaine says:
Typical. But at least you got all the cute video before the visit. Merry Christmas!
Michele Parker says:
I know it’s mean but I about spit out my Starbucks watching this…4 times! Hilarious…I think the picture sent me over the edge. I Annie.
Jessica says:
That photo is awesome! You will cherish it for many, many years! I hope she likes it more next year. My kids have been doing great every year since we started making a Santa Photo album. They look forward to adding another photo every year.
brandeanne says:
I didn’t get a smiling pic till my son was 4. And his bday is in Feb, so he was practically 5! But at 4 & 5 (this yr) he was plenty happy to see Santa. His older cousin always goes first, so that helps a little
noelia says:
that was totally funny!
Glenda says:
I have the same picture of my daughter at 2 1/2… terror in her eyes…
At 3 she was ok… by 4 definitely ok with it.
Day 1: Santa looks like “holy moly what is wrong with this kid ” LOL
Have a great weekend!
Melissa says:
OMG, I love it! My parents made my brother and I get our pictures with Santa from age one to age 18 and hangs them up in her house each year. There are some epic ones – especially the one of my brother with the mullet and racing stripe side burns screaming his head off while he has his fists in his mouth. But nothing quite as epic as Annie.
My brother’s wife loves to look at the pictures of him every year… Annie’s husband will love them too someday!
Lindsay says:
Not gonna lie, I’m laughing my ass off over here. LOL.
Aubrey says:
I think everyone needs one of these photos! My 4 year old says “Why is she afraid of Santa? Oh I know! She is crying because her tights are too squeaky!”
Annalisa says:
I loved the exchange at the end. Her nod had me laugh out loud. “Yep, that’s about right dad, I’m crying about being abandoned in Santa’s lap, and I’m sticking with it”.
I’m taking the munchkin to see Santa next week. Last year she was one and was all smiles at Santa. This year, who knows?
Kim says:
Oh that Annie girl. At least she’s consistent in her “love” of Santa.
Tammy M. says:
That Annie just melts my heart.
Kelly says:
That was classic!
Valerie says:
Awwwwwwwwwww, some things/big, fat guys in red suits are just better from a distance….!!
Molly says:
That picture is hilarious!!
Shelly says:
We have the exact same picture!
Karen says:
The best part is Mike’s face putting on the perfect smile each time he thinks the camera is clicking. The whole thing is freaking adorable.
Ciji says:
I love it! She’s singing Santa Claus is coming to town, so excited and the freaks out once in his lap. And she still tried again and liked her picture. Just adorable. Next year Annie!
Michelle Miro Higgins says:
I love this. This is I am picturing when I take my 2 year old next week. Btw he was laughing while I was watching this.
Lindsey says:
Adorable and tragically funny at the same time. I wish we could “like” comments on here, some of them are great!!! I love Mike asking Annie if she likes the picture and her saying “sure, what’s not to like?” You guys are so much fun…..I think every kid ever born has at least one year where they are freaked out by Santa. I find it so brave that Annie was willing to give it a second go!! I love your family!
Liz says:
LOVE the picture!! My sisters and I are in our 40’s and we have pics with all three of us on Santa’s lap bawling. We laugh so hard we cry at those memories/pictures. They will be treasured one day by her, guaranteed.
Amanda says:
Heather, you (tragically) made it on this front page – all the way down here in Canada.
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1302720–connecticut-shooting-gutwrenching-tweets-as-woman-finds-out-nephew-has-been-killed
Please let your friend know we are thinking of her family and praying for her nephew…
Hope says:
That is priceless!!! ROTFL
Brooke says:
HAHAHAHA! This is going to go on awkwardfamilyphotos.com someday with Annie as the submitter that’ll include some lavish details of her adventure.
Sue says:
My favorite pictures of my kids with Santa are when they were screaming their heads off. They’re grown now and every year when I get the pictures out, we all laugh. Those pictures are the best.
Anna says:
That picture is hilarious! Love it!
Libby says:
Ah ha ha! So darn funny! She was trying so hard. I always think its funny how we take our kids (mine are too little to decide themselves) to see a guy who they have never met and expect them to smile and enjoy it! This year I am taking my 9 month old twin girls (both have stranger anxiety) and my 4 year old special meeds son and I know it’s not going to end well–does that stop me? Nope! Annie is awesome!!!!
edenland says:
I LOVE HER.
So, so cute xx
Pattie says:
Thanks so much for the much-needed laugh. I’m really hoping I don’t have a repeat of this type of Santa visit when I take Coraline to meet him this week.
J P Martin says:
The best Santa picture EVER!
My son was petrified of Santa when he was that age. I am kicking myself now for not buying the Santa picture!
Jessica says:
I love this kid!! Annie is so adorable, and so entertaining! This video put a smile on my face, so thank you. And p.s. I love your little baby belly!!
Mary says:
LOVE this! We have many of the screaming Santa pictures too! This year, they both refused to sit on his lap too. My 5 year old kept looking at him skeptically saying “Is he really the real Santa”?
Maggie says:
AWESOME. picture.
Katrina says:
I love this!!!
She’s so darn eager to see Santa, that’s what cracks me up. She says this and acts like this, but the truth is: she doesn’t want to be anywhere near the guy. LOL
Auntie_M says:
I LOVE this!!! Annie’s the BEST! Love how her skipping, jumping, singing joy turned to tears not once but twice! LOL
You are both saints for taking her a 2nd time! (Heather is a saint for getting dressed & going to a mall at all the way she’s been feeling!)
My nephew’s excuse for not getting in the Santa picture last Friday night with his 3 year old cousin and 10 year old sister: he was pretty sure it was the same Santa as from the movie The Christmas Story. No way was he going to get kicked in the bum and hear “ho ho ho”…I think he expected a slide to open up for Santa to kick him down!! LOL Gotta love the logic of 8 year olds!!