What else is there to do on a Sunday just 10 days before Christmas? Shop I say! Well - maybe stop in to see Santa and Mrs. Claus for a precious photo opportunity for Baby Girl's first Christmas. So like a good mom, I checked out the local mall on Black Friday - only to discover that they were charging $20 bucks just to snap a Polaroid!! If you wanted a selection of actual sizes, that was going to set me back $39.99. Forget it. Daddy's work was sponsoring a Santa photo op later in the month - she would have her picture taken there. Wait! They canceled. Crap. Now I either pay the $20 or go without. Or.... I could rent a suit, get a lot of paper, ink and lug the camera down to do a photo op myself and charge less! Hmmm... I'm already busy enough. The $20 is looking more and more appealing. But still not appealing enough. I distinctly remember that Mercedes and I had our picture taken with Santa Claus at the Flea Market a couple of years back - as a matter of fact, it is still on Grandma's refrigerator. Great! If I remember correctly it wasn't all that expensive either! Problem solved. Daddy, Baby Girl & I would head out to the Flea Market on Sunday to see Santa - quick check on the Internet reveals that he will be there today with bells on. Super! I can even take Marissa and Sabrina for the morning. SCORE!
So Sal & I start out the morning at RaceTrac - great cappuccino! Then over to pick up Marissa where he slips both girls a $5 bill. Five dollars? I only got a dollar to go to the flea market from Grandpa, God rest his soul. But Sal was quick to point out that it was well over 20 years since then - $1 doesn't get much now. I told him that $1 didn't get us much then either - but I digress.
The flea market had a swap shop going on outside - that is where junk vendors (garage sales, recyclables, etc.) sit outside the confines of the market and wheel and deal. We picked up a fantastic real cherry wood coffee table that needs some TLC for $10! It will go beautifully in the living room. Sal picked up a couple odds and ends real cheap as well. Of course the girls' $5 each just burning a hole in their pockets. A mint condition copy of Beatrix Potter's complete fairy tales for only $5 just HAD to be bought to add to Baby Girl's growing mound of Christmas presents that we weren't going to buy... $6.50 on clothes for Baby Girl that were really cute (and a good buy!), $5.50 on three pairs of black socks for me (nothing sexy mind you - they are needed for work), $25 for four tiny slices of bad frozen pizza, 2 decent looking Cuban sandwiches until you turn them over to discover the burned grill marks, a small soda for the girls to split, and a large soda for Sal & I to split - they "threw in the fries for free", yeah right. Sal later went back for a $4 beer - twice.
So, one trip to the ATM later - it is time for Santa's arrival. No pomp and circumstance - he arrives out of the back of a pick-up truck, adjusting his beard. Not to worry - it is the picture I want. I know this is one of his helpers and not the real thing - I just want to get the coveted portrait for in her baby book (which I am 4 months behind on... - yes, she is only 8 months old today, so what about it?). Marissa and Sabrina are running around, oblivious to the fact that Santa is staggering - he is yelling "Ho, Ho, Ho!" or maybe it is, , , oh never mind.
The pictures are $5 each or two (of the same pose mind you) for $8. Being a professional photographer, I don't mind paying the small fees for nostalgia. I kindly ask if after we purchase two portraits of two separate poses ($16 for those of you counting), can I use my camera to capture an image for friends and family via e-mail? I was told no. Again, being a professional photographer I want to respect their decision and not disobey - as my husband is whispering to me that "it's okay - we can scan them in at home". I remind him that I sell portraits for a living and do not like it when others do that to me, so no, I will not scan in their portraits. We get great poses - just Santa, but Baby Girl was awake, happy and looking her best. She smiled with Sabrina and Marissa as well. It was beautiful! Then I looked at their portraits. A little dark and what?!? Red eyes? Who has a camera left with red eyes? Except for infants (they will always have red eyes) everyone else should be blue eyed and blond! I kindly let the lady know that her batteries are on the low side, as I recognize the drop in flash consistency in a less-than-stellar camera with low batteries deliver. She was so nice and said that if we came back in a little bit, we could use our own camera and get the shot we wanted.
I was elated! So off to roam the flea market a little longer. Hmmm... more money to spend. The girls haven't spent their money yet. Time to hit the dollar store. While they are browsing the dollar store, I find a shop offering baby dresses, pretty socks and hair bows. I just might be able to find that maroon colored hair bow headband to match Baby Girl's Christmas dress. The nice lady there offers to check at home, but no, they do not have any dark colors here today. Not all is lost however, she does have an ivory one that will also match. She promises to call if her shipment of matching ivory socks comes in before Christmas. The headband set me back another $3. Meanwhile Sal found some odds and ends for $5 and the girls spent their money - well most of it anyway. So back to get our picture!
So Sal & I start out the morning at RaceTrac - great cappuccino! Then over to pick up Marissa where he slips both girls a $5 bill. Five dollars? I only got a dollar to go to the flea market from Grandpa, God rest his soul. But Sal was quick to point out that it was well over 20 years since then - $1 doesn't get much now. I told him that $1 didn't get us much then either - but I digress.
The flea market had a swap shop going on outside - that is where junk vendors (garage sales, recyclables, etc.) sit outside the confines of the market and wheel and deal. We picked up a fantastic real cherry wood coffee table that needs some TLC for $10! It will go beautifully in the living room. Sal picked up a couple odds and ends real cheap as well. Of course the girls' $5 each just burning a hole in their pockets. A mint condition copy of Beatrix Potter's complete fairy tales for only $5 just HAD to be bought to add to Baby Girl's growing mound of Christmas presents that we weren't going to buy... $6.50 on clothes for Baby Girl that were really cute (and a good buy!), $5.50 on three pairs of black socks for me (nothing sexy mind you - they are needed for work), $25 for four tiny slices of bad frozen pizza, 2 decent looking Cuban sandwiches until you turn them over to discover the burned grill marks, a small soda for the girls to split, and a large soda for Sal & I to split - they "threw in the fries for free", yeah right. Sal later went back for a $4 beer - twice.
So, one trip to the ATM later - it is time for Santa's arrival. No pomp and circumstance - he arrives out of the back of a pick-up truck, adjusting his beard. Not to worry - it is the picture I want. I know this is one of his helpers and not the real thing - I just want to get the coveted portrait for in her baby book (which I am 4 months behind on... - yes, she is only 8 months old today, so what about it?). Marissa and Sabrina are running around, oblivious to the fact that Santa is staggering - he is yelling "Ho, Ho, Ho!" or maybe it is, , , oh never mind.
The pictures are $5 each or two (of the same pose mind you) for $8. Being a professional photographer, I don't mind paying the small fees for nostalgia. I kindly ask if after we purchase two portraits of two separate poses ($16 for those of you counting), can I use my camera to capture an image for friends and family via e-mail? I was told no. Again, being a professional photographer I want to respect their decision and not disobey - as my husband is whispering to me that "it's okay - we can scan them in at home". I remind him that I sell portraits for a living and do not like it when others do that to me, so no, I will not scan in their portraits. We get great poses - just Santa, but Baby Girl was awake, happy and looking her best. She smiled with Sabrina and Marissa as well. It was beautiful! Then I looked at their portraits. A little dark and what?!? Red eyes? Who has a camera left with red eyes? Except for infants (they will always have red eyes) everyone else should be blue eyed and blond! I kindly let the lady know that her batteries are on the low side, as I recognize the drop in flash consistency in a less-than-stellar camera with low batteries deliver. She was so nice and said that if we came back in a little bit, we could use our own camera and get the shot we wanted.
I was elated! So off to roam the flea market a little longer. Hmmm... more money to spend. The girls haven't spent their money yet. Time to hit the dollar store. While they are browsing the dollar store, I find a shop offering baby dresses, pretty socks and hair bows. I just might be able to find that maroon colored hair bow headband to match Baby Girl's Christmas dress. The nice lady there offers to check at home, but no, they do not have any dark colors here today. Not all is lost however, she does have an ivory one that will also match. She promises to call if her shipment of matching ivory socks comes in before Christmas. The headband set me back another $3. Meanwhile Sal found some odds and ends for $5 and the girls spent their money - well most of it anyway. So back to get our picture!
We head back to see Santa and Baby Girl falls fast asleep in the stroller. 
Why wouldn't she? It is 2pm and she hadn't had a nap all day yet. She would normally be on her second nap of the day... So we get back to Santa Claus and there are a few people waiting around, but no serious line. We can get the picture. BUT WAIT! The lady who said we could use OUR camera is off to check her other store. Not to fear! She left a bell ornament for us and instructions to her "elves" that we were to be able to take a picture with Baby Girl and Santa. Well Mrs. Claus was standing there, I had a very deep sleeping Abigail in my arms and a Santa in his sleigh waiting for his next group. So I ask Mrs. Claus if she would like to take my sleeping daughter and go sit with Mr. Claus so I can get a gorgeous portrait. She about jumped at the opportunity. So off she went with my Baby Girl to Santa's side, posing her so delicately, lovingly, so I could take a couple of snap shots. They turned out gorgeous! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I took a few seconds of video and headed over to Mrs. Claus to retrieve my daughter.
Why wouldn't she? It is 2pm and she hadn't had a nap all day yet. She would normally be on her second nap of the day... So we get back to Santa Claus and there are a few people waiting around, but no serious line. We can get the picture. BUT WAIT! The lady who said we could use OUR camera is off to check her other store. Not to fear! She left a bell ornament for us and instructions to her "elves" that we were to be able to take a picture with Baby Girl and Santa. Well Mrs. Claus was standing there, I had a very deep sleeping Abigail in my arms and a Santa in his sleigh waiting for his next group. So I ask Mrs. Claus if she would like to take my sleeping daughter and go sit with Mr. Claus so I can get a gorgeous portrait. She about jumped at the opportunity. So off she went with my Baby Girl to Santa's side, posing her so delicately, lovingly, so I could take a couple of snap shots. They turned out gorgeous! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I took a few seconds of video and headed over to Mrs. Claus to retrieve my daughter. Much to my surprise, Mrs. Claus had tears in her eyes and said "Thank you - you will never know how much that meant to me. You see, I had 4 boys and 3 grandsons. I always wanted my very own princess. Thank you for that moment." Wow. My desire for a portrait with Santa to put in Baby Girl's memory book turned into a real Christmas moment of sharing and giving and love. Thank you to Mrs. Clause and Santa and all the elves at the USA Flea Market for reminding even me, what Christmas is all about!
$35 on Flea Market odds and ends
$37 on food and drinks for the day
$10 on the girls
$16 for the pictures with Santa Claus
Ending up with the PERFECT First Santa portrait?
PRICELESS...
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Simply Precious!!
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