Can't Wait! Can't Wait!

Reina keeps asking "is it Christmas time yet?" even though we've been explaining that Christmas is a season as indicated by her Advent calendar. She IS excited. She helped me wrap presents today, including taking two small boxes, finding something that fit in them and wrapping them with the self-stick paper. She didn't tell me what was in them, only that they were for me and Bill. Oh boy. Too small to have wrapped the cat.

Christmas WILL be here soon, and hopefully a white one, but what I can't wait for you all to see some of these pictures. I'm not bragging, really. Merely eager to share what my fancy new camera can do, no matter who's pushing the shutter button. And, I downloaded the photos myself...with some coaching. I can be taught.

Reina's official birthday portraits

Santa's Little Helpers

Daddy Pancake Night

Reina's Dream Day

Reina's birthday was a great day...she awoke knowing it would be. We started the day with a delicious breakfast of eggs and "breakfast toast" otherwise known as English muffins. She got to wear her fancy party outfit handmade by Gram ALL DAY. We ate potstickers at lunch by request. When Daddy woke up from his post-overnight shift sleep, we went on a mommy/daughter date to see Disney's The Princess and the Frog. It was Reina's 2nd time at a movie theater, my first time with her. We came home and opened gifts, including a pink digital camera that really works so she can leave ours alone. We hosted a pizza party for local family and friends. We had cake with pink (strawberry) and purple (black raspberry chip) ice cream. We rocked out to Guitar Hero. We covered everything with our new stickers. We (well, just Reina) got naked to try on all her new princess dress-ups from Uncles Matt and Jen. We stayed up late. What a day!

A photo recap:

it's good to be the queen

Holiday Rush

I'm not sure I'd say I was fully humbug about Christmas this year. I just haven't really gotten into the shopping (practically none, no parking available at the mall) but am thankful for free shipping and the internet. I've never been much of a baker and the Christmas cards and letter have always been Bill's territory.

But every time I feel scrooge-like, Reina says or does something that reminds me that this Christmas, her 4th actually, is really the first she has been really aware and excited. Like today when she begged for hot chocolate before dinner because she saw one snowflake. Or when she checks the date on my watch in order to know which ornament to hang next on her Advent calender. She has gotten into the "Elf on the Shelf" who watches her behavior and reports to Santa. She's a quick one, though. "The elf doesn't see me when I go bye bye." Huh.

On Thanksgiving morning, she came down to the kitchen where activity had already begun and cried "it's Thanksgiving!" with pure glee. She gets confused about the religious aspect, asking if Jesus is a baby or a grown up. She knows about giving gifts, but has already kind of spilled the beans to Daddy about his (not really, I gave her a decoy).

I hope this season finds you and yours happy and healthy and not too humbuggy about the details. As a part of our yearly preparation for Christmas we have several family birthdays I feel I need to mention. Michael-Dad celebrated his on the 13th. We've been fortunate to have spent some time with him and Gina-Mom et al recently, including a Polar Express train ride during which Reina treated Santa as though he had cooties. Bill's Dad "Bub" was born today. We are still in the first year since losing him and his birthday is one of many dates during which we think even more about him. My two favorite boys carry on his name. Gina's dad, Popeye, was born on December 23rd and every year the family gets to together to celebrate each other and the holidays. Not to be forgotten, Little Miss Reina will be turning 3 years old on Thursday. She has asked for a pink cake with goldfish crackers. Delicioso!

Once I really figure out how to get my photos uploaded I'll be more timely, until then...