Caroleen’s Treasures

Guess what? Ella saw Santa last Sunday and she and Eman was able to sit on his lap!!!! It was an unexpected event because we just went to SM with my sister Crislyn and BIL. We went to visit them after the service but we met them outside their apartment on their way to buy a sofa and pay some bills. Cheche was sleeping that time so we opted to go with them so we won’t disturb our working lady. She really needed some rest after a night shift at the restaurant.

So yeah, that is my dearest daughter on Santa’s lap. She was so happy and so are we because we never expected Santa will be there. When we arrived at SM, it was packed with people and Donald and I took turns checking on Ella. She wandered away from me before four years ago in that same place and we don’t want it to happen again. Eman was safe in his stroller (we brought it since we spent longer than usual at church for the Inter-congregational Service) and just dozed on and off while we waited for my sister and BIL buy their new sofa. They bought it at the furniture store across SM. Eman was asleep and it is hard to bring the stroller with the sleeping Eman from where we are so we stayed. After doing some window shopping, we waited for them at our favorite spot in the foodcourt. Ella got very busy talking to the ladies at the stalls selling perfumes while Donald and I killed the time by eating. hahahahaha So when my sister and BIL came back to meet us and suggested we get something to eat, I was actually not very hungry but I know Donald won’t say no to that kind of invitation. (peace Partz!) We had an early dinner at Pizza Hut where we also had picked the name for the exchange gifts on Christmas Eve.

Ella was trying to read the name of the one BIL has picked. I think I know who!

I think this is the first decent picture of Eman with his Tito Ace or the other way around. LOL

The little guy posing for Tita Crislyn

We spent almost an hour there and the table was a mess because Eman keeps dropping his biscuits on the floor. Talk about the new game he discovered….”the I drop, you pick”.

After dinner, I went ahead to get a couple of items at Watson’s. I thought I can still catch them when I am done but Donald followed me there with Eman asking if Ella is with me. OMG! I did not panic yet but after I paid for the items and found Donald still looking for her, I felt blood rushed on my head and my heart began to pound. Ella is not yet 3 feet and with all the people roaming the mall, it’s impossible to locate her easily. Donald said Ella went out with my sister and BIL and he thought they are heading to where I was. I think we kept looking around for 3 minutes and that was the longest 3 minutes in my entire life. At the center of the mall there was a red carpet and some huge red Christmas balls hanging and some are on the floor. We saw that the other week and Ella sat on the chair there and asked me to take photos of her. I remember she love that holiday scene and as my eyes glanced to where it is, I saw her standing on the other side. I almost yelled (I think I really did) when I saw her running away. I thought she was looking for us and was about to head to the door so I ran to her and as I grabbed her hand, she blurted out “Andiyan si Santa, magpa-picture ako kay Tita!” I looked around and there was Santa getting ready for photo op with the people in line. Well, what happened was the first to sit on Santa’s lap.

I quickly grabbed the camera inside the bag and snapped a couple pictures. I was ashamed what the people who were in line might say. It’s not actually our fault cause I tried to stop Ella from near Santa (and she did complied) but Santa and the ladies of SM called her to go ahead. After the second shot, I heard my sister ask for another moment so she can take pictures. Glad they went back in the mall from the furniture store. I am sure hers are way better than what our digicam has taken. I snapped some more while she taking pictures then I heard Donald tell the lady to something like “Miss, they are siblings…” and handed Eman to her.

Oh yeah, I got so excited and mortified with all what happened that I forgot I have two kids. LOL Eman did not cry but he looked straight at Santa’s eyes as if in doubt if he’s real.

Thanks Santa for this great photos!!!! I am sure Ella won’t forget that experience.