At the weekend we took Baby to see Santa. We have tried a couple of times over the last week or so, but we didn’t book anywhere and long queues are not compatible with a toddler. So we decided to book more of an Santa experience. Last year, Baby cried when sitting on Santa’s knee and so the last thing we wanted was to queue for hours, then have her refuse to go anywhere near the big fella! So on recommendation from a friend, we booked tickets to Santa’s grotto in Oxfordshire.
Our trip didn’t get off to the best start, as poor Baby was up during the night being quite sick, poor little mite. She was very poorly, but seemed much better in the morning and hadn’t been sick for about 7 hours, so we decided to stick with our plans. Unfortunately, a couple of minutes from the venue Baby was quite badly sick all over her new Christmas jumper and tutu. It is just awful seeing your child being sick and I think we would all take it away from them and experience it ourselves if we could.
After a quick clean up and change we headed to the grotto, prepared to play it by ear and just bring her out if she looked poorly again. Bless her as soon as she saw the reindeer, she was captivated.
We made our way into the grotto to be greeted by some wonderful elves, who gave us instructions to make Reindeer food and came round with magic dust for our bags.
The grotto was filled with lovely Christmas decorations and lots of animated characters.
When the Reindeer food was made and the children had learned a song and dance for Santa, we were taken into the next room which was Santa’s living room. Roaring fires, Christmas trees and lots of comfy bean bags. Baby was a little unsure and just wanted to stay with Mummy and Daddy. She did enjoy having a look round and she took it all in.
Then after Santa and the elves had entertained us with stories; the children and their families went up one by one to meet Santa and have their photo taken. All of the children received ‘The Night before Christmas’ book from Santa. Baby really wasn’t sure at all and just buried her head onto my neck, only once making eye contact with him. The next stop was to show our passport to the elves in the next room, who made the children promise to tidy their toys and eat their vegetables in return for a stamp on their passport and time to choose whichever toy they wanted from the various shelves stuffed full of toys.
We had a brief wander back through the garden centre and into the Ice Cafe for a cup of tea.
Then Baby started to feel a little pooorly again, so we headed home for a bath, PJs and snuggles for the afternoon.
I am linking up with the following fabulous bloggers and their lovely linkys.
Katie from Mummy Daddy Me for #OrdinaryMoments (granted not ALL of this is ordinary)
Jaime at The Olivers’ Madhouse for #MagicMoments 
Charly at Podcast Dove for #What’sTheStory 
Comments 18
Aww I’m sorry she wasn’t feeling very well, but she certainly looks like she enjoyed most of it. Have a lovely Christmas.
Author
She did thank you x
aw poor wee dote not feeling well, but it does look like she enjoyed the experience. Those reindeer look amazing how exciting it must have been for her! x
Author
She really loved the reindeer, think she expects one for Christmas now! x
Aw her little face!! Shame she wasn’t too well, but the pictures are beautiful!
Took my 3 month old to meet Santa last week too!! 🙂
Author
Thank you huni. I hope your little bubba had fun x
What a nice day! Though shes not well she does look like shes havin a grand time. Kids really amazes me on how they can still be okay even when they are sick.
Thanks for sharing. What a beautiful experience. #TheOrdinaryMoments
Author
Thank you hun x
Such beautiful photos Aby, especially that one of Baby staring with the lights in the background. It looks like a lovely day, even though she was a little under the weather. We are taking Mads and LL to meet Santa on Mads birthday. x
Author
Thanks hun. I love that picture too, it was a lucky snap. I hope your girls enjoy their trip x
Looks like a lovely day, even if she was under the weather x
Author
It was such a lovely event, definitely one for next year x
This will be such a magical Christmas for you. We are making Reindeer food here for our Deer on Christmas Eve with our young guests.
Author
Have a wonderful time hun x
Bless her I hope she’s all better now. That picture of her looking to the side with the lights is just gorgeous- definitely one for a frame I reckon! Glad you all managed to have a nice time though despite the mishaps. I haven’t taken Elsa to see Santa this year because she hates strangers. We did bump into one at soft play the other day though and she wouldn’t go near him! She doesn’t even like model Santas!
Author
Thank you huni, I love that one too. Baby really wasn’t keen on meeting him at all! Have a wonderful Christmas x
We didn’t take Gwenn to see Santa this year. This decision was largely based on the fact that she slapped a horse – that was dressed up a reindeer – in the face at a Christmas fair. I’m not sure I could subject some poor man in a Santa suit to that kind of abuse 😉
You got some amazing photos. I wish I could get to grips with my camera more and get good shots like yours.
x
#whatsthestory
Author
I did snigger when I read that! All these ones were taken on my phone huni, I am flattered you think they are good 🙂 x