More white stuff?

Three to five inches of snow forecasted for today. We'll believe it when we see it. So far, just rain.

Christmas revisited

Christmas started at the bathroom sink, passed without a nap and ended quickly with a record conk-out in bed.

That's right, we had to woo Claire away from a running faucet -- one of her favorite experimental places in the house -- to get her to come to the Christmas tree. That's where Santa had left a second-hand-store-bought dollhouse, an Ikea train set, a homemade stocking hung by the fireplace and mounds of wrapped gifts.




The candy canes and lollipops in her stocking became major distractions, the first of many to lure her away from the tree. In fact, distractions were so frequesnt and so lengthy, we still have a half dozen unopened presents in her name under the drying tree.




Books demanded immediate readings, usually for more than one time through.




Gifts themselves became window dressing for the ... window dressing. Grandma and grandpa gave Claire some stacking blocks, pictured here in the background. Notice, it's not the blocks holding her attention. It's the enclosed toymaker's catalog.



Later, blocks finally got stacked.





A Playdough set stole her away from the tree for 30 minutes. The parents took advantage of the break to grab a snack and open our own few gifts. When we invited her back in, she replied from the kithcen, 'I busy."



Other hits: Bubble wrap, her existing baby doll, the old playdough, Post-it notes

There. Now you have next year's Christmas list. It's sure to be economical.




It was all worth it when, this morning, as I was leaving for work, Claire said: "Daddy, you want play with my dollhouse?"

The doll house/train

White Christmas

A first! Wow! Not in the forecast!





Merry Christmas!

An elf's work

And presents under the tree

On Friday, while Claire was at the babysitter's, we unpacked a bunch of presents sent by the various grandparents/relatives.

When Claire came back into the house, she noticed them immediately. For several moments, she said nothing. She scanned the floor quietly. I set her down and removed her jacket. Then she said:

"What's going on in here?"

Since then, she's not torn into any packages or even asked to open one. Instead, she hands them out one by one, or stacks them up on the couch, or deposits a few in a bag and carries them around the house, unpacking and repacking them.



Just goes to show, it's all in the giving.

Frostier

Granny and grandpa sent a CD with a version of Frosty on it. Much dancing ensued....

Frosty the Snowman

Nana gave Claire an illustrated Frosty book. This is the net result.



A reprise

More trimming

Tis the season

In between repeated singing of Frosty the Snow Man, we dragged out non-breakable ornaments and decorated the Christmas tree, first established when nana and papa were visiting.





Now, for a little idea on what Clare might get from Santa.



Two of her current faves: Blocks and a choo-choo train. The blocks hold her attention for a long time.