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Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition

by Lily @militaryfamof8

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Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition

When I think back to my childhood, I can’t recall a time when we went to visit Santa, though I do remember amazing Christmases. My oldest child is now 24 since he was a little one, we have tried to visit Santa during the Holiday season.  As a Mom of 6 little ones and my Husband deployed 6 different times, it was extremely difficult to take the kids out during the Holidays, but when he was home; visiting Santa is something we did. Now, as our youngest is 12 and the oldest at home is 17, and Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition. The kids look forward to seeing who can make who male the funniest face during a laugh, or who can make the others laugh out loud while speaking to Santa. It was perfect timing that the first snow of the Year happened as we were driving into Queens, NY.

https://www.militaryfamof8.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Visiting-Santa-is-a-Great-Family-Tradition.mp4

 

This weekend my Family was invited to visit HGTV’s Santa HQ in the mall and of course we were excited to attend. Since this is the last year at home for our High School Senior, it is even more important for us to continue with our tradition and try to make her have the craziest laugh during the picture.

Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition

Visiting Santa’s HQ was so much fun, it was a welcomed change from a traditional red chair picture and what made it so much better than the rest were the interactive stations for everyone.

Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition

To visit Santa’s HQ, you can visit the site here  and learn all about the HQ and its activities, for a time that best suits your schedule you can also make reservations on the site and avoid waiting in lines! You can also prepay for your photograph package, so the most difficult thing you have left to do is choose your poses!

Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition

The first fun thing to do was finding out if we made the naughty or nice list, 

Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition


Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition

My Husband wanted to travel to the North Pole, but settled with knowing he’s on the nice list… for now

Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition
And of course I was surprised that it was taking too long to place me in the super nice list 😉
Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition
and some were very surprised at the results! She walked away fast before it could change results…Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition

­

After the list screening, we got our first shot at embarrassing the kids in front of the photographers.
Parents 1 Kids 0
Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition
Next was the Elfie Selfie Station!
Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition

The next section was my favorite: The control room!
The kids can pick up the iPads on the control deck and use them to look throughout the room, the gadgets and gizmos come alive, as well as some surprise visits from the Elves!

Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition

And who can visit the HGTV Santa HQ without visiting the main guy himself?
It was time to see Santa!

She was proud to tell Santa that she has been good all year…

Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition
Can the Parents make the kids laugh for the pictures?
Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition
We asked the photographers to use the baby rattle, no rules in this game!
Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition

Of course! Parents 2 – Kids 0!Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition
To see the joy in her face when she hugs Santa, even as she prepares to leave for College; I can not describe it!Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition
Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition
Of course you didn’t think that I was too old to visit with Santa right?!
I will never pass up a chance to chat with the big guy and let him know that I still believe!
Visiting Santa is a Great Family Tradition
I do plan on keeping this tradition long after my children have grown, they have been warned many times.  As Spouses and Grandchildren are added to the Family, so will the memories of visiting Santa!
If you haven’t visited the Santa HQ, make it a point to go, no commitment at all. You don’t need to make a reservation, just visit while you are at the mall and see for yourself if you like the HQ; I have a feeling you will 😉

I do hope that you are able to visit HGTV’s Santa’s HQ, it’s far more than just a visit; it’s an experience!

https://www.militaryfamof8.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/SANTA-HQ-General-25-sec.mp4

 

This is a sponsored blog post; while the opinions, suggestions, and wonderful memories are all mine, consideration was paid to review this product/place.


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Filed Under: Christmas, Holidays, Traditions, Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Stacie says

    December 12, 2017 at 11:47 am

    Visiting Santa has been a huge part of our Christmas tradition since my kids were little. Even though my kids don’t believe in Santa anymore, we still go to see him. It’s that big of a deal.

  2. irishred13 says

    December 12, 2017 at 12:24 pm

    My kids visited Santa over the weekend and they had a lot of fun with the HGTV setup. It was fun for us too!

  3. Bill Sweeney says

    December 12, 2017 at 2:24 pm

    That looks like a lot of fun! All kinds of things to do, and, of course, meeting the Big Guy!

  4. Tatanisha Worthey says

    December 12, 2017 at 7:28 pm

    Now THAT is how you visit Santa. Wow, what a magical place for kids to visit during the holidays.

  5. GiGi Eats Celebrities says

    December 12, 2017 at 7:47 pm

    It certainly can be a great tradition but when I have kids, I am not going to tell them there is a Santa. I am going to be realistic with my kids because I don’t want them thinking I lied to them.

  6. Sue Reddel says

    December 12, 2017 at 9:08 pm

    Visiting Santa is truly a family tradition many of us have. Santa’s HQ looks like it would be a fun experience for the whole family.

  7. Jocelyn @ Hip Mama's Place says

    December 13, 2017 at 4:26 am

    It’s definitely a fun tradition to do with the kids no matter how old they are! It’s really nice to see the kids smiling and just enjoying the whole thing!

  8. Victoria Heckstall says

    December 13, 2017 at 8:03 am

    I always wanted to see Santa. Visiting Santanis always a tradition. And even now I still believe in Santa If I could go there I’ll tell Santa that I did nice things this year. Oh by the way The screening is so cute!

  9. Kathy says

    December 13, 2017 at 10:02 am

    This is really neat. I wish they had something like this around here. My kids would have really enjoyed this.

  10. thirtysomethingsupermom says

    December 13, 2017 at 11:14 am

    That looks like a really cool way to visit Santa. I love the looks of that place!

  11. Up Run for Life Healthy Lifestyle Blog says

    December 13, 2017 at 2:49 pm

    We don’t take our kids to see Santa. I’m just not a fan of the crowds. We do a few other traditions though.

  12. marysa says

    December 13, 2017 at 3:40 pm

    What a fun event! Looks like you guys had a blast. That is so cool that you got to go, I would love to check it out next year!

  13. Nichole Arnold says

    December 13, 2017 at 3:49 pm

    This is one of our favorite and MUST DO traditions with our son. The first year he was just over a month so we have photos of “Santa’s” hands holding him but he has seen Santa every year and this year even saw Santa twice!

  14. Amy says

    December 13, 2017 at 5:19 pm

    I wish we had this near us. I know my kids would have loved to meet Santa this year – and find out if they were on the naughty or nice list

  15. Ada says

    December 14, 2017 at 4:20 pm

    Aww this looks like so much fun! We’re never too old for Santa.

  16. Nancy at Whispered Inspirations says

    December 15, 2017 at 10:58 am

    What an amazing family tradition! I love meeting santa, it’s always such a blast for the family.

  17. sara lafountain says

    December 15, 2017 at 6:57 pm

    We also visited our local Santa HQ and it was so much fun! My kids loved it and I was happy to recommend it to friends across the US.

  18. Jenny says

    December 16, 2017 at 8:47 pm

    I remember doing the whole santa thing growing up, but now that I am married to scrooge LOL we don’t do holidays.

Trackbacks

  1. Visiting Santa- It's Never Too Late for a Great Tradition! - Adventures of a Military Family of 8 says:
    December 12, 2018 at 2:01 am

    […] As the kids have gotten older and my Husband is home more often, we have made a tradition that we all love. It’s an hour drive for us to our closest HGTV Santa HQ but we look forward to it every year. The drive with 4 teenagers is filled with laughs, arguments and many Christmas sing-a-longs. We have gone for the last few years and it’s what they look forward to as the beginning of the Christmas season. After we have fun in the HGTV Santa HQ, we visit with Santa for a while. One of the things I love the most is that each of our children can enjoy their time with Santa alone and then take our Family photos. No one rushes you through the visit because there are so many different activities to keep everyone entertained. To read about our visit last year by visiting this link. […]

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