The Santa Hat Game - By Darwin

[Camilla and Darwin]

As the holidays get closer, I always get pumped up for one of my favorite games. The Santa hat game! My mom and dad introduced me to this game the first Christmas I ever had, and I love it, it's really fun. 

 

Here is how it works: My mom and dad try to get a Santa hat perfectly posed on my head, with me facing forward, looking at the camera. I try to avoid this at all possible costs.

 

Because of my incredible skills, they always form a team to make things more fair for them. My mom sits ready at the camera while my dad forces the hat onto my head. My mom also has cheese, attempting to distract me (I'm not going to lie, it does work) while she takes the photo. I then have to wait until my dad moves his hand, then whip my head around as quickly as possible, preventing them from snapping the winning picture. 

 

It is great fun! Don't tell them I said this, but they are both kind of poor sports. I'm not mad when they win... but they are always mad when I do. Human shortcoming I guess. The first time they tried this I was beaten pretty quickly, I just didn't have the experience I do now. Because I know how disappointing it is to be beaten right out of the gate, I've decided to share tips with you fellow doods who may play this game.

 

Since that first game I've had a lot of chances to improve. We do practices every month or so, with bandanas, Halloween costumes, flower headbands, etc. I usually fly through these challenges with flying colors but the real challenge is the actual Santa hat event. This year my mom had a new camera, which she told me was much faster than her old one. I was worried but I accepted the challenge. 

 

My greatest disadvantage was the fact that she could shoot so many photos, so close together. I had a few strategies to combat this.

 

First off, immediately tilt your head downwards. It will at least cover your eyes, if not remove the hat completely.

 

If that isn't working, make an nasty face or stick out your tongue. It will buy you time. I was lucky this time, my ugly faces flustered my mom into putting her camera on the wrong settings.

Make your face look normal, but make sure the hat is covering half of it. This is a wonderful mind game that distracts them with their own anger.

 

At this point it goes one of two ways. First, your humans laugh and congratulate you, giving you the cheese or whatever treat was distracting you. Second, they get really mad, throw a fit, and you have to pose nicely and LET them win. To end the pitiful whining.

 

But you don't have to be happy about it. 

 

So, have you played this game with your humans? Who usually wins? Do you have any tips? Share photos here! - Darwin

[Carol and Banjo]

LOL!!!   Oh Darwin......this looks like such a FUN game!!!    We're just loving the 2nd to last pic!!!   Banjo doesn't know it yet....but he's going to have to play this game pretty sooooooon!   You can see bey last years shot he was not too happy either!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Banjo you keep fighting the fight, you look ticked here, good thing you are so cute otherwise you would have had 25 more shots to deal with.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Absolutely adorable!

 

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

This is fab, I love these pictures.  I'm off to buy a Santa Hat for Riley.  Getting a good photo will be another thing altogether!

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

Oh my gosh ...Lachlan hasn't had a chance to learn this game yet (soon, my pretty, soooooon *evil cackle*) ... but I'm laughing helplessly over here. And Joanne, perfect reply!

Okay, here's a dumb question for y'all: Where does one buy a Santa hat?

[Camilla and Darwin]

I bought mine in the walmart Christmas section for 1 dollar. :-)

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

LOL, thanks! I feel a bit silly for even asking the question, but realized I've never bought such a thing and had no idea where to look!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Camilla, This is really cute and so is Darwin. I love the one with the funny face :) Another way to go, is the easy way. I just had my daughter Photoshop hats on their head....LOL!!

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

I haven't bought a hat to do this with Luna, she got the digital version last year ;)

 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Mom had to do the same thing last year, I'd show you but she says those pictures are locked inside the old computer waiting for recovery.

[Katie, John & Parker pup]

lol the digital version is the only way to get it perfect I think! haha

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Yeah, we played this game last Christmas for the first time as well. I won at the end, but Monty made sure I can't use the picture anywhere because of his sour face. Uhmm, so perhaps I shoudn't say I won, right? I bet that was his revenge for the silly body shave he got that day...