Braving Northpark

I'm intimidated by Northpark mall.  It's the "rich" mall in Dallas, and I just don't feel like my casual self fits in, you know?  However, they have a long-standing reputation of having the most authentic Santa and a model train exhibit benefiting the Ronald McDonald House.  We decided to brave it.

Granny stayed in town an extra night to help out, and Becky and Reid joined us, too.  We got to the mall right at 10:00 and headed right to Santa.  This operation is so busy, that you actually pull a number just to get in line.  We drew #84 and were told that would probably be around 2:30.  Um... never mind.

However, at 10:30, Santa comes out and spends 30 minutes talking to the kids, telling stories, etc.  It was really worthwhile, and JTC loved it.  (AJC was mostly interested in the little girl sitting behind us.)  That satisfied our Santa needs for the day, thank goodness.

The train exhibit is set up in a store front (kinda like what we saw, Laura, but turned up to 11), and the boys could just walk around at their own pace looking at everything.  People can donate to RMcDH and have a train painted in someone's honor, and we searched hundreds to see the one for "Charlie and Luke R_".  Cute!