In 1989, when my first son was just two weeks old, we took him to see Santa for the very first time. The mall Santa looked nervous holding such a tiny baby, and the picture quality wasn’t great but we kept that photo and cherished it. Year after year, we made it a tradition. In 1993, another son joined the photo. Back then, you only got a Polaroid snapshot, no fancy photo packages but we proudly displayed them each Christmas.
When my oldest was three, he surprised everyone. When Santa asked what he wanted, he said, “I don’t know. I have everything I need.” That moment stayed with me. Sure, that would change later, but those early Christmas mornings were magical.
After moving south in the mid-90s to be closer to family, we welcomed two more boys in 1995 and 1998. By then, Santa visits had become our only group photo tradition. Professional photos were expensive, and the schools took too many, so Santa pictures were our thing. Getting four boys to smile at once wasn’t easy—some years ended with me in the photo, trying to hold them still. But I wanted to capture every memory, even the tearful ones.
In 1999, after separating from their dad, our family life shifted. Traditions changed. Time together was limited. Still, we made space for the Santa visit each December and a drive through the town’s live Nativity. We laughed at past pictures as we hung them up for the holidays. Our “Santa Wall” began, photos pinned to an old tree skirt on the wall near the tree. The boys would cut toys from ads to make their wish lists and bring them to Santa.
Around 2002, life got tough. The divorce dragged on. Finances were tight. My church stepped in with meals and gifts. A friend dropped off a scruffy little tree, and we made it shine. One day, as I watched my boys visit Santa, I teared up knowing I couldn’t afford everything on their list. When Santa turned to me and asked, “What does mom want this year?” I replied softly, “A new life.” He gave me a hug and whispered, “I’ll see what I can do.”
The following year, I met the man who would become my husband. He helped bring joy and hope back into our lives. He had two kids of his own, and together we continued the Santa photo tradition. We added fun outfits and inside jokes. Even when the kids grew up and moved away, they still tried to keep the tradition alive. Some even visited Santa while deployed!
By 2018, we had 30 years of Santa pictures. My youngest had 21 straight years. The Santa Wall is a proud family tradition, our way of remembering the magic, laughter, and love that Christmas always brings.
