A Magical Morning in Roseville: Inside Our Photos With Santa

This year has been full of changes, and I’ll be the first to admit I’m not someone who loves change. Improvement? Absolutely. But change can be difficult. Four years ago, I came up with a simple idea for how we could give back, an idea that turned into an annual event we came to love: Photos with Santa benefiting GiGi’s Playhouse of Sacramento. Giving back to them and to the community in a meaningful way is something I will always cherish. I will miss being part of that chapter, but with starting my own real estate company, change was inevitable, and it’s something I’m learning to embrace.

Every year, we try to raise the bar, and this year’s Photos With Santa didn’t disappoint. We partnered with Lizzie Cannon Photography, Kitchen 747, and MoJoe’s to bring the magic of Christmas (and local makers) right into the heart of our community. What started as a simple idea has become one of our most memorable community moments yet. If you weren’t able to make it, here’s the full breakdown of what went down and why the day felt so special.

Yes, Santa did show up. Yes, he was early. And no, he didn’t eat all the cookies this time.

On what ended up being one of the coldest days on record since 1985, butterflies started popping up in my stomach as we set up our custom Santa’s workshop backdrop. My ADHD brain ran through a million questions: “Is this going to look good?” “Did I buy enough candy canes?” “Will people actually show up?”

And show up, they did. As the clock hit 10 AM and the event kicked off, people began arriving in waves. I love seeing the look on kids’ faces as they check in at the sign-in table, eager, excited, and ready to tell Santa all about the gift they've been waiting for all year. Handing out stickers, candy canes, and chatting with folks by the fire helped set the tone for the season and bring in the spirit of Christmas.

Watching families stroll through the shops, grab breakfast, warm drinks, or even ice cream (did i mention how cold it was) was priceless.

One of my favorite moments was watching a little boy about 4 years old, walk up to Santa and proudly show him his best ninja cartwheels and superhero poses. I also love watching parents try to comfort their children as they scream in terror the moment they’re placed on the lap of a stranger in a red hat. My kids are now past that age, but those are the moments you laugh about for years.

It’s events like this that pull our community together, the community we call home. For one morning, people stepped out of their houses, came together, supported small businesses, and filled the plaza with the joy of the holiday season.

Huge thank you to everyone who came out and made the day unforgettable. And of course, none of this would’ve been possible without our partners: Kitchen 747, MoJoe’s, Lizzie Cannon Photography, and so many others. Your support keeps these community traditions alive and better every year.

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At the end of the day, events like this remind me why I love serving this community. Roseville isn’t just where we live — it’s where we connect, build traditions, and create moments worth remembering. Thanks for being part of it.