A S H T O N
Katelyn stood behind Ashton in line, her hands gripped firmly on his pants leg as they neared the front. Who was that man with the beard and why did he wear so much red? Ashton reached down to rest his hand on Katelyn’s head, trying not to lose track of her. You would kill him if he lost your only daughter in this massive mall.
"Are you excited, Katelyn?" Ashton asked quietly and she broke her stare with Santa for a moment to stare up at her dad.
She shook her head no and reached up so Ashton would pick her up off the ground, hopefully taking her out of this insane asylum she felt like she was in. Ashton held her tightly in his arms, but they didn’t move from the line.
"I’ll go in with you, is that okay?" Katelyn popped a finger in her mouth, starting to chew at her nail. Ashton quickly pulled it out of her mouth, raising his eyebrows at his daughter.
They were finally next in line. It didn’t take long for the kids in front of them to finish the picture and Ashton stepped inside the red rope, letting Katelyn down to approach the guy with the beard.
"Aren’t you adorable?" The man exclaimed. Katelyn stared up at him awestruck and she took a few steps closer, Ashton following close behind. He lifted her onto Santa’s lap and stepped away a little.
"What would you like for Christmas, cutie?" He asked.
"I want a drum kit like daddy’s." Katelyn said quietly, her fingers returning to her mouth. Ashton shook his head at his daughter’s bad habit, a smile on his face.
"A drum kit? Aren’t you a little small for that?" Santa looked over at Ashton, who was only beaming proudly at his daughter’s choice.
"I guess I can put that on the list for you!" Santa ho-ho-ho’d and their picture was taken together before Katelyn was given a candy cane. They were finally done with their day at the mall.
"That wasn’t too bad, was it, princess?" Katelyn held tightly to her dad’s hand as they found their way to the car.
"Would you go again next year?" She frantically shook her head, causing Ashton to laugh.
L U K E
"Are you excited for Santa to come?" Luke asked your two-year-daughter, Lyla, holding her on his hip tightly.
"Cookies!" She screeched as Luke walked into the kitchen where you were finishing up with putting the small batch of cookies you’d made for the night on a plate to set out for Santa.
"Maybe if we ask mummy nicely, we can share one?" Luke smiled over at you widely and you couldn’t resist the same smile that spread across Lyla’s face.
"You two are just the same." You laughed, handing over one of the sugar cookies to Luke, who broke it apart with Lyla.
"Thanks mummy!" Luke said, handing Lyla’s half to her.
"Thanks mummy!" Lyla repeated. You smiled.
"Luke, don’t give your half too!" You grabbed the cookie from his hand as he was handing it to Lyla. "She’s gonna be on a sugar rush and she’ll never go to sleep." You scolded, setting the half cookie down on the counter. You reached out your arms to your daughter, taking her away from Luke. "I think it’s time for you to have a bath anyway, missy, so you can get to bed and Santa can come with your presents!" You tickled her and she laughed, sounding throughout the house.
Luke watched you take her away to the bathroom before grabbing onto the plate of cookies and carrying them out to the living room where they belonged.
