Ol' St. Nick

The morning of the Rupp family Christmas party I asked Adeline if she was going to sit on Santa's lap.  She told me "NO".  So I went on to tell her that He was nice, and that you had to sit on his lap in order to tell him what you want for Christmas.  She seemed only slightly more open to the idea.  At my next suggestion she looked at me like I was crazy.  I said, "let's practice, I'll be santa."  In my lowest, jolliest voice I said, "ho ho ho, what do you want for Christmas little girl?  Come sit on my lap."  I am not joking, she was HESITANT to sit on MY lap.  Really?  I'm your mom!  Anyway, it took a little convincing but eventually she sat on my lap and told me what she wanted.  We must have "practiced" 5 or 6 times that day.  I couldn't wait for that evening to see how she'd do.

 Rigdon: I expected him to cry.  But every parent has to torture their kid with Santa, right?  Well I was wrong.  He went to him cheerfully, looked at him, smiled at him, and then turned and smiled at me.

 Adeline:  When he called her name she RAN up to him, sat down and quickly told him what she wanted.  It was too funny.  As soon as she said, "another stroller, and another dolly" she was ready to get off.  But Santa charmed her and she stayed for a picture.

 Talmage: By the ripe old age of 4, sitting on Santa's lap is NO big deal.  It's just business.  Talmage asked for more Legos.  Before kids started sitting on Santa's lap he had everyone sing JINGLE BELLS.  Well, this just happens to be Talmage's favorite Christmas song.  When Talmage sings he puts his whole heart into it and sings at the top of his lungs.  Just bordering on, and sometimes full on, shouting.  (Imagine how Scripture Power went during the primary program).  The other adorable thing is that he is one beat ahead of everyone else, so you don't really notice that he's yelling until he says JING while everyone else is breathing.  It makes me smile every time!  Oh I wish they'd never grow up.

 Talmage was a Shepard.

 Rigdon was our 10 month old Baby Jesus.  Swaddled despite preferring to stand, and chewing on a piece of celery.

Adeline is the angel/shepard in the light blue dress, front right.  It was a fun and memorable night.