walmart: always low...standards?

i have been waiting to share this all week. every time i look at elijah's santa photo from last year, it makes me laugh.

the last couple of years, walmart has offered a free photo with santa.  we always take the kids to see santa at the mall and always take the pictures ourselves. however, if someone is going to give me something for free, then i am all over it.

i had seen the santa several times that first year but had already taken my kids to see our mall santa, and didn't discover i could have gotten a free pic. until it was too late.

so last year i was prepared. someone had mentioned it early, i marked the date on my calendar and we hopped in the car that day to visit jolly old saint nick.

apparently walmart had lowered their santa standards from the previous year because what we discovered was more like santa's drunken brother from another mother.

christmas 2009, elijah's first christmas

i understand this man certainly can't help the way he looks. i am not complaining about him for everyday appearances, but this is santa for goodness sakes, and i am sure that this is not the man children envision when they think of santa claus.

however, elijah didn't know any better, so of course i had to capture this memorable moment and still get my free photo. 

then we quickly hopped back in the van and drove our butts over to the mall.

i am entering this photo in hi, baby's santa photo challenge. it's also a giveaway, so dig out your santa photos and come link up!

updated 12/15/10:

you can also link up your santa photos here over at harper's happenings.

do you like free stuff?

i know i do! 

that's why i LOVE swagbucks.

swagbucks is a rewards system that lets you earn virtual dollars, or swagbucks, for doing things like searching the web, taking polls, or shopping online at a number of different websites.  the points earned can be redeemed for awesome prizes, including my favorite, amazon gift cards.

the best way to earn points is by downloading the swagbucks toolbar.  the toolbar includes a search engine that periodically rewards users with additional swagbucks simply for searching the web.  basically, i am being rewarded for something i already do. sure, why not?

swagbucks recently added swagbucks tv also.  now, i can watch videos, just like i would find on you tube, and get rewarded.

when i shop online, i always check to see if the website i am shopping at will earn me points at swagbucks.  for every dollar i spend, i earn swagbucks.

like i said, my favorite way to spend my swagbucks is to trade them in for amazon gift cards.  just recently i purchased a konad nail kit i had been admiring at amazon and paid absolutely nothing for it. 

what a great way to earn a little extra money for christmas and birthdays each year!

wanna start earning swagbucks and receiving free stuff?  follow the link below to swagbucks to learn more and to set  up an account today.

all of the links above are referral links. for every point you earn, i will earn points as well. if you would prefer not to sign up under my referral link, click here to sign up and begin earning points today.