Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Letters

Of course she is brilliant. :)

Sunday, January 1, 2012

December

All through December we played Christmas Music, watched as more and more lights came up on houses, decorated our own Christmas tree, talked about Santa, watched Frosty the Snowman movie a million times, and in general just enjoyed the season. Last year, we did the same things, but this year she really had the vocabulary to show us that she understood what was going on.

December 2011 was the year of the Frosty the Snowman. Everything she talked about was Frosty. Everything she watched had Frosty in it. She loved Frosty. Our new car is named Frosty. Surprise, surprise.
I am hoping that now that it is the new year, we will be able to STOP talking about Frosty, but I doubt it.

Ever since she was little, we have gone to see the very same Santa at Lincoln Square. He is so kind and really silly. It is fun to be an adult around him and listen in on what he has to say about things to kids. Last year, we heard him talk to some kid about green bean casserole. This year, he spent what seemed like forever talking to a little boy about one of the reindeer. Seems that this reindeer (not sure which one) is getting old and has arthritis in his hip so he won't be making the flight this year. He was hoping to sit beside Santa in the sleigh but Santa and Mrs. Clause think there isn't enough room for the reindeer, what with all the toys taking up all sorts of room.
We waited about 30 minutes, which was a blessing and a curse all at the same time. The wait was forever and there wasn't much available to occupy her time. The up side to the wait was that we had plenty of time to talk to her and get her excited about sitting with Santa and talking to Santa. We were really hoping that by doing that, she wouldn't be as scared of Santa as she was last year.
We had also packaged some hershey kisses for Santa and Mrs. Clause, so that was going to be our icebreaker as well.
Right before she was to be called, she told us she needed to go potty. The times when she tells us are few and far between, so when she tells us she has to go, we listen! She and I raced into the potty only to notice that not only had she already gone in her diaper, she had also soaked through her pants. Oh great. So replace the soaked diaper, try to dry off the pants and hurry to sit on Santa's lap. He was going to love that! We walked out of the potty and they called our name to see him.
After we gave him the bag of candy, Santa and I decided to have her sit on arm of the chair instead of on his lap. (I am sure he gets this a lot... but still, his shift was far from other that day!)
She freaked a little, but did ok as soon as she warmed up to him. He asked her what she wanted for Christmas and she had no idea what to tell him. He could have been speaking another language as far as she was concerned. She ended up telling him "HO HO HO" and he laughed a big belly laugh and cracked her up.
The next day was Christmas Eve and we talked all day about how Santa was coming to our house and how she needed to go to bed early. Problem was, she wanted Santa to come and play and couldn't understand why he wasn't coming over to play.
The next day, she was thrilled to see Santa had brought her a doll house and some "friends" (Winnie the Pooh and Tigger dolls) in her stocking. She wanted so much for Santa to come over then so she could tell him thank you.

That kid played and played and played and played with her toys and was really ready for round two of playing when Grandpa, Frances, Papa, and Nana came over for Christmas day lunch.

Such a fun time we had. All along, she looked and looked for Santa and talked about Santa coming over to play with her.

It has really been a great Christmas. One I will never forget. I know that as the decorations come down and the blow up Frosty and Santa in the neighbor's yard get put away, she and I both with have some Christmas time withdrawals. Here's to next year, Frosty and Santa. Rest up in the mean time. Lilly is going to be ready to play!