Two red shirts, size 3T and 6, bought in a frantic 5-minute blitz at JC Penney: $19.95

Two sets of pictures, printed instantly on a dye-sub printer Deanna now covets: $37.85

Cost of items requested during the ensuing discussion–2 Glow-in-the-dark Doodle Bears: $49.90

NO LINE TO VISIT SANTA AT THE MALL: Priceless

Eliza, age 3 and Emily, age 6

A tear-free Santa visit! (Kid-wise. Mama gets the waterworks going at just about anything.)