Decorating for Christmas was not pleasant this year… and I just keep thinking how taking it all down will be even harder because I’ll be that much more pregnant. Nevertheless, Paul loved helping put up the tree. And I do love the lights and the Christmas music. (Guest pass to view this set on Flickr.)

And then we come back to Santa. Do you remember Raisin’s reaction to Santa last year? Well, this season began much the same.

“I don’t like Santa. Santa is grumpy.”

“I don’t want Santa to come.”

“I don’t need any toys.”

So when we headed to the Lake in the Hills tree lighting, I warned him that Santa would be there, but we didn’t have to talk to him. We would leave after we saw the Christmas trees. Surprise! Once he saw Santa, he really wanted to talk to him.

They had this set up for pictures as we waited to talk to Santa. Paul is saying “Merry Christmasssss!” which is why his tongue is sticking out. I only had my phone with me (I wasn’t planning on meeting Santa, remember), so that’s why it’s totally out of focus.

I kept asking Paul what he was going to say to Santa. Would he tell Santa “not to come” like he did last year? He just said, “You’ll have to listen very carefully.”

So what did Paul say?

“What do you want for Christmas?” asked Mrs. Claus.

“Books,” said Paul without hesitation. “Books about books.”

Aw, like mother like child!

He said he