Santa at the Mall

Having just completed a Santa costume for my Wizard, I had a lot of plans for holiday photos with him. But then life took a turn, and I was offered an early surgery date from a cancellation just ten days off. Which meant there wouldn't be many photo opportunities afterwards as I recovered. I had already started making a 'Mall Santa' setting, so decided every single one of my small dolls was going to get a chance to see Santa in the week before my surgery.

Waiting for Santa

Santa's castle was all set up at the mall, and it was almost opening time.
Lisa had got herself a job as photographer...to take photos of the kids when they come visit Santa....

Lots of people were already waiting patiently in line....

Elin was given the job of handing out candy canes...

"Ten minutes sure does seem to take forever!"

And the line up was getting quite long....

Eric & Nyssa

Santa arrived and took his seat on his throne.
Steve and Iris had come with her two little ones - Eric and Nyssa. When it was their turn,
Eric ran up and jumped on Santa's lap. But Nyssa's shyness suddenly got the better of her.....

"But Mom.....I really don't want to...."

Elin offered her a candy cane....

"You take this, and go stand beside Santa so we can take a picture for your Mom.
This means a lot to her."

So Nyssa took the candy cane and cautiously made her way over beside Santa....

...and Iris got a photo of her kids with Santa after all....

Next???

"Okay, whose next??"
Everyone turned to look at Erzulie, who had been standing at the front of the line for a while..

She was clearly the next person in line....

Santa sat waiting....

"I don't know where my brother and sister are! We were all standing here together, but then they left,
and Mom told me I can't go see Santa until they come back..."

Angela made her way through the crowd towards her little sister.
"What are you doing up here Erzulie?? You need to come wait with us further back in the line."

"I was keeping our space at the front!! I can't help it that Efreet had to go to the bathroom!!"

"Well, we left the line, and can't just bud back in. So come with me and wait our turn properly!"
And so Erzulie grudgingly went with her big sister.... "And I was next too!" she grumbled.

the Tiny Kaye Wiggs Girls

"So I guess we are next then," said Peach, who had brought the three little Kaye Wiggs girls..

Cinnamon ran up to Santa, and climbed up on his lap, to whisper in his ear.....

He listened intently to the big list of things she was hoping that he would bring her.....

Then the three of them posed for their portrait with Santa....and Talyssa asked to have one taken by herself...

As they were leaving, Cinnamon spotted an unattended basket of candy canes, and decided she wanted more than just the ONE she had been given.....so she grabbed a big handful....

Talyssa was so embarrassed.....

....while Tillie tried to talk Cinnamon out of it...

Peach grabbed Cinnamon's hand to drag her away....

Santa started looking for her name on his gift list.....

"Hey, what are you doing??"

"I'm circling your name and marking you as 'potentially naughty', so I know to keep an eye on you, and if things don't improve, you won't be getting anything from me, for Christmas."

Cinnamon was heartbroken....

Peach hugged her close, "He said 'if things don't improve'.
Which means you still have three weeks to show him that you are actually a very good little girl."

Leona & Owen's Family

Next in line was Holly & Coco's family. Milo wasn't with them, as he'd decided he was too old for a picture with Santa...

"I love you, Santa, and I'm going to bake your favourite cookies, for when you come to my house..."