Merry’s demand

• By EMILY KERN HEBERT
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Dec 23, 2008 - Page: 1E - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Sisters Ashley and Katie Swan started fussing about taking their picture with Santa Claus when they were around 11 or 12 years old.

But, with Ashley, 23, and working full time and Katie, 18, and a senior at St. Joseph’s Academy, the girls still haven’t gotten any relief from the family tradition.

In fact, their mother, Merry Swan, is more determined than ever to have her little girls take their picture with Santa. She won’t let them have their Christmas presents until they do.

“Now, it’s like bribery,” Merry Swan said.

“This is how I feel — you have to do this until you get married,” she added. “This is my gift.”

The tradition started when Ashley was born. She took her picture by herself the first five years until the arrival of sister Katie.

In Ashley’s picture at 20 months old, she looks on the verge of tears. Years later, when Katie is about the same age, 26 months, she is crying on Santa’s lap while older sister Ashley looks on. In a couple of photos, Katie has braces.

“I love to display them,” Merry Swan said. “You can see how they’ve grown and changed.”

The pictures come out every holiday season.

“I’m big into memories. I take pictures for everything,” Merry Swan said.

She jokes that when she pulls out her camera, her friends tease her. They call her photos “Merry’s Memories.”

Last Christmas, the girls went to the Mall at Cortana to have their picture taken.

They were able to grab a pager and be buzzed when it was their turn rather than wait in line.