A Visit from Santa Claus in Our Living Room, 2009

In December of 2009, we had a special guest stop by the house. I remember him just appearing in the living room, standing in his full red suit next to our Christmas tree as the kids looked on, a little stunned.

Once the initial surprise wore off, they took turns sitting on his lap. One of our sons, wearing a pirate hat for the occasion, had a lot to say. Santa gave him a candy cane, which he seemed very interested in. Our daughter was a little quieter, but smiled as she had her turn.

At the end, we gathered all four kids for a group photo. Getting everyone to look at the camera at once never really works, but the result is a perfect snapshot of that moment—a little chaotic, very festive, and all contained within our living room. It was a simple, memorable part of that holiday season.