We spent the evening at Lisa’s annual countdown to 6:00 party, and now Carrie is working really hard to stay awake until midnight to see the ball drop for the first time. We’ll see whether that was a good idea or not tomorrow morning…
Carolyn
The Princess and the Frog
Carrie and I went to see the new Disney movie this afternoon. It was really good, and Carrie did very well even with the scary bits. I like how this Disney Princess was not waiting around for Prince Charming to make her life better and instead was working hard to try to make her dreams come true!
Gingerbread Village
Carrie, Uncle Michael and I decorated a whole gingerbread village yesterday. It’s a *lot* more work putting together and decorating five tiny houses than one big one!
Good thing Carrie has teeny-tiny fingers, because Michael and I couldn’t manage the teeny-tiny candies they included in the kit – they were practically sprinkles. I think “candy” is a very misleading name for those little bitty things. Tweezers might have helped!
This is Nacho Doggie!
That was a quick trip! We had fun hanging out with Jeannie, John and the kids, but now we’re back home and have just a few short days to get everything together for Christmas. I thought I was so very nearly done before we left, but looking at my list there’s a lot left to do!
In other news, Carolyn is campaigning hard to change Molly’s name to “Nacho” and Murphy’s name to “Olive”. While both are hilariously funny names for dogs, I’m pretty sure neither dog is going to start responding to their new names. Though I do love Olive the Other Reindeer and Olive My Love. And really, how funny would it be to introduce your dog named “Nacho” to someone? “Hi, this is Nacho dog!” (Carrie totally doesn’t get the Nacho = “Not Your” joke…)
School Holiday Party
I signed up to bring a treat for the class holiday party, but the treat I decided on became an activity as well – decorating gingerbread men! So I dropped Anna off at Nikki’s house and headed to the school for the holiday party. What fun!
Did you know that the echo line in Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer after “Then one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say…” is no longer “Ho, Ho, Ho”, but “In his underwear!”? I didn’t. All the parents who had come along to help in the class cracked up when the kids all shouted that line. Who knew?
After the party, Carrie and I dashed to pick up Anna, and then went home to pack up the car. We’re in NYC now!
Field Trip
Carrie took her first school field trip today. They went to tour a historic home and watch a puppet show of The Night Before Christmas, and then they went to the local VA hospital to sing Christmas, Hannukah and patriotic songs. Anna and I went along as chaperones (well, OK, I was a chaperone, Anna was my tag-along). It was a lot of fun!
Birthday & Biscotti
Yesterday was my birthday. Denis and the girls got me a lovely mother’s necklace, and we went out to the local hibachi place for dinner with my family. The girls gave me the best present ever by behaving like angels at the restaurant. Anna was initially horrified by the giant flames, until she saw the enormous pile of rice the chef was going to cook…then she got really, really excited! Carolyn was duly impressed by the egg tricks.
Today Carrie and I went to Dan & Genevra’s new house to make biscotti. They are way, way tastier than store-bought biscotti! Carrie loves to help cook and bake!
Breakfast with Santa
We went to church this morning, and then to the pancake breakfast with Santa after.
This Santa was slightly less intimidating to Anna, although that might have been because this time I sat down with her.
Carrie was so excited to get to see Santa again that she sat on his lap twice – once before and once after breakfast. You know, just to make sure he got her order wish list straight and all.
Santa Visit
I took the girls to see Santa today. Luckily, Denis met us at the mall after work and we all went together. Yep, that was pretty lucky. Because while Carrie was more than happy to climb right up on that red velvet-covered knee:
Anna wanted absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Claus.
That’s right. Not even with Daddy sporting his festive Mets hat sitting with them.
Nope. No Santa for Anna this year.
Luckily, Carrie was happy to pass along that Anna really wants a doll for Christmas this year. And I don’t think Santa takes it personally when babies scream at the sight of him. At least, I hope not!
Spinach is not Fun.
Carrie and I had a conversation tonight about what she might like for Christmas. I know she’s planning to ask Santa for pink ice skates and roller skates with “training wheels”. (I hope Santa knows what she’s talking about, because I sure don’t!) But I thought she might have some other ideas for other people (namely me) who might like to buy her a Christmas gift.
me: So, Carolyn, what else do you want for Christmas besides ice skates and roller skates with training wheels?
Carrie: PONIES! And also, a Barbie named “Alexa”, or a book about a Barbie named “Alexa”. And a sun that babies can’t play with.
me: A sun? Like a model of the solar system?
Carrie: No, a yellow ball. That’s really hot.
me: Have you ever seen a toy like that anywhere? What does it look like?
Carrie: You could take lots of little pieces of yellow paper and make them into a ball and then somehow make it be hot. Maybe by making it be on fire!
me: But then the ball would burn up, if it was made from paper.
Carrie: Well, maybe instead you could make me some yellow cookies. With points!
me: Um. OK, then. Is there anything *else* you might like for Christmas?
Carrie: I don’t know. I’d really be happy with anything I got for Christmas!
me: Well, that’s easy. I’ll get you some spinach!
Carrie: No, not spinach!
me: How about dirt?
Carrie: No, Mommy, that’s silly!
me: Underwear??
And it got even sillier from there. She finally suggested that maybe we should stick to toys. Or books, or art supplies. Basically, anything that’s fun.
I guess spinach is not fun.