One of the best things about being Santa is having the same kids come back year after year to get pictures made. I have literally watched some grow from being barely old enough to start school to now driving cars and such.
One such individual is not driving, per se, except driving his parents crazy. I have known his mother since she was three years old. To top that off, he is the absolute youngest child I have held as Santa at just 3 days old.
This is a great story.
As some of you know, I have been exclusive to Dream Event Photography, owned by Jason Reed, for over 8 years now. I have known his wife, April, for a very long time. Her parents moved in next door to us when I was a teenager and she was only three years old. She spent a lot of time at my grandparents up the road with the rest of us cousins.
Fast forward to 2014, I decided to start being Santa again after putting up the suit for a long time. I got a suit and, at that time, I was using the “traditional” beard and wig set. Jason was looking for a Santa to sit for Christmas pictures. I messaged them and we set it up that I would be their Santa, which I absolutely loved due to knowing April for so long.
Now, we had been doing pictures for two seasons and April was now pregnant with her third child, which we all lovingly called Bob. Bob was due right in the middle of our season of Santa pictures. Poor April was waddling around very pregnant, helping get smiles and greeting folks at the door. We had finished up a session on Sunday and she was just exhausted. I told her that I bet Bob would be here any day.
We ended our session on Sunday and, lo and behold, she had Bob, now a proper name of Hudson, on Wednesday. I held him for his first pictures that Saturday at just 3 days old. It was enough to give me some very strong emotions to say the least.
From then on, every Christmas season I have several pictures with Hudson who is now in school, six years old and full of spit and vinegar.
I am certain you have seen my sister (April Reed) posting on Facebook about Hudson and some of the things he says.
I have watched his sister, Anna Grace, grow into a wonderful young lady. I have watched his brother grow and come completely out of his shell to be the mascot for Jasper Vikings. Maddox definitely found his calling with that. I have watch Hudson go from being a wee one barely bigger than a loaf of bread to be an inquisitive, curious boy.
There are so many that I get to see grow from season to season. This will always be privilege of being Santa in a community like ours.
