We’re So Stinking Close!
We’re so close! For 5 years we’ve tried to get a single picture with all three boys in Santa’s lap. In 2006 we got really close but at the last minute, despite promising him cotton candy, Gage decided he just couldn’t do it. But he agreed he would stand in the general vicinity of the “big red man.” He made is very clear that if “that guy tried to touch him he would scream bloody murder.”
Then there was 2007. The cotton candy trick actually worked on Gage this year but there was no way in heck that Brewer was even going to consider it. This was his way of tell us to shove the cotton candy up our….
In 2008 I put my negotiations gifts into action and spend a good 10 minutes explaining and motivating Brewer for the big moment with Santa. He was talking a big game. He promised me this year he would do it, but at the last minute he had a total emotional meltdown and tried to take off so my wife heroically dove into the picture and held him with all of her strength so we could get the shot. I will admit that I don’t think I could have sat in the 2008 Santa’s lap either. He was a bit scary. Just look at those eyes.
And then there was last weekend. With a little coaxing from a very convincing Santa, Brewer actually agreed to stand next to Santa, but said he would bite his index finger right off of his hand if he in anyway even attempted to pick him up and put him in his lap. Well we didn’t get all 3 boys up in his lap but at least Santa ended the day with all 10 fingers.
Do you ever remember being afraid of Santa?













49 Comments:
Being a Spaniard, the main event other than the birth of Jesus Christ is soon after Epiphany, and the very much awaited royal figures who come all the way from Orient in their wonderful camels are the three Kings. There was never any fear about meeting them, but a genuine sense of awe and wonder as they rode elegantly through the High Street of the main cities.
Your kids look identical to you, specially your two youngest.
My husband was Father Christmas this year at our son’s school Christmas Bazaar. Our son who is now 9 had his suspicions before the event, as my husband also did this last year, but all hope was lost as his classmates shouted at the top of their voice: “You do know Santa is your dad, don’t you?”.
Enjoy the magic, the wonder and the “fear” in your sons’s heart while it lasts. It goes all too quickly!
Blessings,
Mercedes
[Reply]
ransom33
7:16 am
I don’t recall my parents ever insisting that I sit on some jolly guy’s lap… but I still have the occasional panic attack in the presence of clowns, doctors, and traveling evangelists!
[Reply]
ttm
7:49 am
This is sad but I don’t remember doing the Santa thing…
I’m going to have to go look at family photos to see if I have just blocked it out or if it never happened.
My sister is 6 years older than I am so I wouldn’t be surprised if my parents were over the Santa thing by the time I came around.
Lindsey Nobles´s last blog ..Scaling Back
[Reply]
Pete Wilson Reply:
December 12th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
You got ripped off!
[Reply]
Lindsey Nobles
7:56 am
Saw this on Brandi’s blog, LOVE it!!!!

Lauren Kelly´s last blog ..Exciting news on the Aunt front!
[Reply]
Lauren Kelly
8:02 am
I was much more scared of the Easter Bunny than Santa… Something about the very large head and the netted eyeballs.
At least you could make eye contact with Santa…
[Reply]
Josh
8:04 am
The year my son Dale was 2 years old we thought it would be great to have Santa show up on Christmas Eve and give him a present. So we searched until we found a Santa costume and I spent an hour getting dressed and hiding until the family was in the living room together.
I come bursting from the bedroom saying “Ho! Ho! Ho!” and waving around this big box for Dale and the kid takes one look at me and screams like teenager in a Friday the 13th movie. Tears are flowing and he’s doing he can to claw his way through the couch to get away from Santa. I just stuck the present under the tree and left the room…Dale opened it while I was changing out of the outfit.

Jason´s last blog ..Is it always satan who causes us to do dumb things?
[Reply]
Jason
8:05 am
Please tell me you’ve seen this site: http://www.SketchySantas.com
[Reply]
mpt
8:12 am
Never Santa… clowns and the monkeys on the Wizard of Oz still creep me out!! LOL
[Reply]
Phil Chalos
8:18 am
My little sister was strongly opposed to Santa. I’m 8 years older and remember having to “sit” on Santa’s lap holding her for the first 3 or 4 years of her life. By 12 I was totally over it!
We had our first child’s picture taken with Santa – tears, snot, red face, the works. From that point on, I asked one time. If they wanted it, fine, we’d get a picture. If they said no, we just walked away. Don’t regret it one bit. All about choosing a battle…
Cindy Graves´s last blog ..Twelve Days of Christmas…My Version
[Reply]
Cindy Graves
8:18 am
I never believed in Santa!
Emily @ The Pilot’s Wife´s last blog ..10 on the 10th: Booklist
[Reply]
Emily @ The Pilot's Wife
8:33 am
Terrified.
[Reply]
Bernard Shuford
8:44 am
I was never afraid of santa, but my middle daughter was petrified. I think to her santa was just like a dog (albeit a dog in a nice red suit), of which to this day she is still afraid of (the dog, not santa).
Paul Fowler´s last blog ..Worship Update Dec 6th
[Reply]
Paul Fowler
8:48 am
I am. I still am. The only place I’m O.K. with character people is Disney World. I don’t have a clue why.
Sarah´s last blog ..Adventures Of A Recovering Biped
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Sarah
9:05 am
my son is 7 and the thought of some big fat guy in a red suit sneaking into our house in the middle of the night and eating all the cookies has never sat well with him – he doesn’t even want to go near santa – he knows
[Reply]
Rebecca
9:09 am
We were so poor that we never got to see Santa himself… sometimes we would find his socks. My parents wouldn’t let us use them though… they would hang them over the mantle in case he happened by looking for his lost socks.

Tony York´s last blog ..Movie Scenes That Stick With You
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Tony York
9:19 am
That 2007 photo is CLASSIC. Check out the look on Santa’s face! “Somebody please get this kid out of here.”
Never afraid of Santa thankfully. Somebody else mentioned clowns and that’s where I do get creeped out. Still. As I close in on 40. Clowns = CREEPY.
Jay´s last blog ..Stop Gossiping!
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Jay
9:27 am
Nope I loved Santa, but I was really afraid of clowns…I guess they could be the same thing.
Kyle Reed´s last blog ..Top 5 Post of the Year
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Kyle Reed
9:59 am
I don’t think we ever took pictures with Santa… but if you have had this much trouble with three kids, I’m pretty sure my mom decided six kids ages 8 and under just wasn’t worth the headache

gitz´s last blog ..I’m Irish. Where’s My Luck?!?
[Reply]
gitz
10:10 am
I think that by the time everyone is willing to sit on Santa’s lap your oldest is going to be too big. Wow have your guys grown this year.
Is Brandi in charge of their haircuts…or do they go with you? They are super handsome. You are a very lucky Daddy.
jessica´s last blog ..Saving Christmas
[Reply]
Pete Wilson Reply:
December 12th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Brandi is generally in charge of the haircuts! I do give my opinion but she’s the one that executes them.
[Reply]
jessica Reply:
December 13th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Super cute cuts. My little boy’s hair currently looks more like a mullet

jessica´s last blog ..Giving Him Back…
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jessica
10:47 am
Oh and to answer your question…I was never afraid of Santa {not that I can remember}. Although I do recall being super ticked at him when I found out the whole truth.
jessica´s last blog ..Saving Christmas
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jessica
10:48 am
My mom has a picture of me (when I was about 2) sitting on her lap, sitting on Santa’s lap, so that we didn’t have to touch.

diane´s last blog ..Fun with Leaves
[Reply]
diane
10:56 am
I have 3 kids, and until 2 years ago I could not get a picture of the 3 of them together with Santa! (then they were: barely 3, 4 and
It was always my MIDDLE child that was crying.
Actually, getting my 3 kids to do anything I want them to do at the same time is near impossible.
Last Sunday Santa came to my church! It wasn’t planned, in fact, it turned out he was an “on call” santa that they fly wherever there’s a need to fill in. He happened to have been flown in from out of state and was looking for a methodist church. He put in his phone “methodist church” and it gave him directions but he couldn’t find the one listed, so he then just typed in “church”. The app led him to our (definitely not methodist!) church. My pastor even walked out and greeted him near the end of his sermon. Later when my 5 year old saw him, her eyes grew wide and she cautiously made her way to see him, every step getting slower and slower. She spoke in a soft, shy voice (though she’s not always shy) until he asked what she wanted. To that, it was like permission was granted and she spoke up and said she wanted a kitten!
Then she went, gathered up all her other friends (and her brothers) and proudly pointed out Santa for them to go and present their list. He was truly a “real” santa… real beard, little old fashioned spectacles, red shirt, red cheeks….. blue eyes!
It was such a thrill for the kids to see him. He stayed for 2nd service since he came in late for most of the first and my pastor said he really enjoyed our church and the message that day.
On the playground on Monday I heard my little kindergarten girl proudly brag that Santa came to her church on Sunday…. and she’s getting a kitten for Christmas! (oh no!) For some reason, requests to Santa while in church seems to carry more weight to them!
Torybee´s last blog ..Impossible Union
[Reply]
Torybee
11:22 am
@Diane, I would love to see that pic!
[Reply]
pete wilson
11:27 am
Never had picture made with Santa that I can remember, but not afraid of him either.
PS…saw these on Brandi’s blog and I’m saying the same thing here…I love that Brewer is rockin ‘The Pete’ hair!!!! Your boys are too cute!
Alison´s last blog ..Oh Christmas Tree
[Reply]
Alison
11:38 am
Love it! Picture #2 is a scream! I am a horrible, terrible, no good, very bad Santa picture taking mommy!
And while I don’t recall ever being afraid of Santa’s lap, I do recall insisting one year that I be allowed to wear my Easter dress to sit on Santa’s lap. That picture still cracks me up at the wrongness of the pink and yellow flowery-ness of it with my brother in a snowman sweater!
Christine´s last blog ..How Christmas and Christmas Decorations Really Have Nothing to Do With Each Other
[Reply]
Christine
12:35 pm
This is my favorite post of the day! Laughed out loud.
As a kid, I didn’t like sitting on Santa’s lap because he always smelled like peppermint and I HATE peppermint!
You’ve got a lovely family, Pete.
Rachel H. Evans´s last blog ..Weekend Reads + An Embarrassing Finish-the-Sentence-Friday
[Reply]
Rachel H. Evans
12:41 pm
Enjoyed the pictures Pete. The 1st santa looked the most real. I hate fake beards and would cry if I saw one also.
David Knapp´s last blog ..davidaknapp: @pwilson latest blog post: We’re So Stinking Close!: http://bit.ly/72vgSN
[Reply]
David Knapp
3:03 pm
REMEMBER being scared. He still freaks me out.
[Reply]
britt
3:33 pm
Okay the look on Santa’s face in that second picture is hilarious!
I was never really scared of Santa, but the thing that absolutely FREAKED ME OUT as a kid was Ms. Piggy. Especially giant, life-sized ones.
Becky´s last blog ..Oh, Christmas Tree
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Becky
3:40 pm
Awesome pictures. I don’t remember being afraid but my teen only made it to year 2 and would not go back and my 4 yo had never been because I can barely get her to go grandpa let alone a strange man at the mall.
Lori Zimbardi´s last blog ..I Dare You To Make Me Cry
[Reply]
Lori Zimbardi
5:06 pm
I mean really santa is quite odd- an old man dressed in an itchy outfit in the middle of the mall. . . I totally get the scared stuff! I wasn’t a big one for strangers so you can imagine how Santa went! Pete I think you should be Santa next year! LOL
Jessica´s last blog ..Just thinking . . .
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Jessica
6:04 pm
I don’t understand the fear of Santa OR the fear of clowns. So strange. What did they ever do to you?
Oh, and Miss Piggy is awesome.
Vanity of Vanities´s last blog ..We Have a Tree!
[Reply]
Vanity of Vanities
8:24 pm
Yes, I never went through the “believing in Santa” phase because of my parents’ beliefs about that. So I was told from a fairly young age that many other children believed Santa was a real person who shimmied down chimney’s to deliver presents but he was really fake. I agree with my parents’ general thoughts here, but telling a kid Santa’s a fake certainly makes the kid suspicious of the poor guy – at least it did in my case, which led to some eventful interactions (and I’ll leave it at that).
-Marshall Jones Jr.
bondChristian´s last blog ..Developing your Authenticity Policy
[Reply]
bondChristian
11:27 pm
@Britt,
[Reply]
Pete Wilson
8:20 am
@Josh, please remind me to tell you about the year I played the Easter Bunny at the mall.
Good times.
[Reply]
Pete Wilson
8:45 am
wow.. those older pics are hilarious!!
I do have to say.. You and Brandi better getting ready for the millions of phone calls from the girls…. You have some real heartbreakers on your hands.hahaha
Adam O´s last blog ..1 Month..
[Reply]
Adam O
10:31 am
I was only afraid of the Santa from a Christmas Story
I can’t be afraid of Santa, I was named for this Holiday!
Nick´s last blog ..The Devastation of Losing Trust
[Reply]
Nick
11:32 am
I was extremely shy as a child and I remember being afraid of Santa. I think one picture has me with red puffy eyes from crying, and several have me not smiling with my head down a little, and eyes looking up at the camera.
Shelley´s last blog ..A Change Is In The Air
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Shelley
12:21 pm
Terrified but I my pix was never taken. I wouldn’t even go to the mall. You’ve got blackmail pix for later on down the road!!
Cindy Brown´s last blog ..Thank You Veterans!!!
[Reply]
Cindy Brown
12:54 pm
Phil Chalos – so with you about the monkeys!
According to my mom, I wasn’t afraid – and I don’t recall every being afraid.
Bradley (3.5) just had his 4th photo done with Santa. Only his 2nd year was tough – he’s loved the other 3. 1st year – all smiles. 3rd year – NY Macy’s – too entertaining to be afraid.
Yesterday – he was STAR STRUCK. Santa is someone he looks up to now and he could not get enough of him. Of course, Santa heard his whole life story…it was so fun to watch.
[Reply]
Paula
1:13 pm
Santa is like a clown to me (yes, I’m terrified) so I had to muster all of my maternal strength to get 3 little ones on his lap for pictures . I faked it the best I could, but was so grateful for the experience to be behind me.
Candy´s last blog ..Adrift
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Candy
1:13 pm
LOVE THEM BOYS!! Where the heck is time going???? Wasn’t Brewer JUST BORN????
DEb´s last blog ..Merry Christmas…. to Y – O – U !!!!!
[Reply]
DEb
1:53 pm
@DEb, It’s scary how fast time is flying. I hate putting them to bed every night knowing their waking up one day older. I want to freeze them just like this!
[Reply]
Pete Wilson
1:54 pm
The good news: Keep trying, you’ll eventually get your picture.
The bad news: Jett will be in college, though.
Paul from Canada´s last blog ..Always Be Ready To Give An Answer…
[Reply]
Paul from Canada
3:05 pm
Santa is on the same creeper level as the icecream truck dude….
I know it’s wrong to say, but I know you were all thinking it already

Aaron Reddin´s last blog ..How to Avoid the MAJOR Screw Ups
[Reply]
Pete Wilson Reply:
December 13th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
You’re going to get coals in your stocking!
[Reply]
Aaron Reddin
9:33 pm
Pete, You’re awesome.
I think you’d like my latest post, it smells like cheese, if you catch my drift =]
[Reply]
Jordan Clark
11:53 pm
Pete, You’re awesome.
I think you’d like my latest post, it smells like cheese, if you catch my drift =]
Jordan Clark´s last blog ..Your Under-Cover Lover
[Reply]
Jordan Clark
11:53 pm
haha. for sure. i always cried when i saw santa. i was that kid that hid behind his mom though:)
jackalopekid´s last blog ..Too Much
[Reply]
jackalopekid
11:47 pm
merry xmas to every one have a lovley xmas.
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[Reply]
wireless surround sound speakers
5:43 pm