A Moment with Santa

We visited Santa at Patrick Henry Mall. Emma's friends Linton and Garrison went first and had a delightful time. Emma got close, then backed up a little and had tears in her eyes. Santa and I convinced her that she needed to help him hold onto Libby. So up on his lap she went. No crying. Picture (notice her grip on Libby's arm). Then I got Libby (who was pulling on Santa's beard when her arm was not in Emma's grip), and asked Emma if she wanted to tell Santa what she wants for Christmas. And she looked up at him and said "traintrackdollouse!" Then he gave her a candy cane and we walked away. I was so shocked that it was so painless. Visits with Emma and Santa have been so difficult in the past. I am still telling her how proud I am of her. She was so brave . . . but maybe, just a little, I like it when she didn't like anyone else but me! I don't know if she was able to do it without crying because of Libby, or because she saw her friends do it, or because she's just another year older and is so much more social than she's ever been. She surprises me constantly.