Santa Claus is coming to town...

Caitlin recently had her first non-relative sleep over. It was with Aspen. I don't know if this really counts as her first sleepover because I treat Aspen like a daughter. Anyways, when these girls get together they are so silly. They truly act like sisters. Aspen always teaches Caitlin new things  because she is older (in the pic below she is showing her how to play the math games on the computer). Caitlin thinks Aspen is a genius because Aspen is a 2nd grader and they know EVERYTHING!!

Here the monsters are pretending like they are sleeping. Although we got Caitlin bunk beds for this exact situation, the girls wanted to sleep in the same bed.

***They were actually sleeping about 5 minutes after I took this picture.

 The next morning we went to breakfast and then we got to see Santa at Bass Pro.

Here they are anxiously waiting for SANTA CLAUS

These girls are always posing and acting so silly. 

After waiting in line for 30 minutes (we got there really early so we wouldn't have to wait all day) it was finally our turn to see Santa. Much to my surprise, both girls were afraid to get on his lap. All morning they giggled about seeing him and when it was actually time- they froze.

Part of the problem was that Aspen did not know what to ask Santa for. She worried all morning about it. While we were in line I told her that if she didn't make up her mind he would just give her whatever was left in the workshop after he delivered presents. So, she quickly made up her mind and said she wanted new dance clothes (she takes 3 different dance classes and is AMAZING and has such a cute attitude when she performs). Caitlin did not even have to think about it. She has wanted the same thing since last Christmas.

Caitlin went first- she very proudly said "I want a BARBIE DREAM HOUSE". Santa looked over at me with a very sympathetic look on his face as he asked her if she had been good all year. I gave him a nod so he would know that it was OK to go on with the B.D.H. wish. Then Aspen said "I need some clothes". When Aspen said she wanted clothes I must have had a look of horror on my face because she didn't specify dance clothes. So really think about this situation... Santa has no idea that these two adorable girls are not related and  I am OK with buying my youngest daughter a very expensive Barbie dream house yet I cannot afford to buy my oldest daughter clothes.

It was kinda embarrassing. I didn't know what to do. Especially since I had already asked the elf if she could redo the picture because Aspen's hair was blowing in her face from Santa's oscillating fan sitting next to him. So I felt like I was already being demanding.

I immediately got over the embarrassment when I looked back at Santa and saw the two shy little girls that would barely walk over to him sitting there chatting away with Mr. Claus. I actually had to go to them and tell them it was time to go. Those girls were sooooo excited that Santa spent time with them.

This Santa is amazing. He is dressed so cute-- he wears Santa-y pants and suspenders (you know- his casual hanging around the house look) with his little big vest and gloves (because he doesn't want to get cooties from all of the kiddos). He also has a real beard. He clearly is into fashion.

***Maybe this is actually the real Santa- darn, I should have gotten his autograph.

 After the photos the girls went down the "ice slide" 834 times before Aaron and I said it was time to go.

So the girls jumped into the UTV we bought them and drove on home. Aspen drove of course because she is older.