Dear Henny Bells,You had another eventful holiday season.
*We put up our tree and got it all lit up only to decorate it with about 10 plastic ornaments and your three special ones.
It was still quite festive without needing to jumping up every five minutes to grab something from your hands or to find the more expensive or heirloom ornaments became colorful shards to pick from my feet. I loved most trying to get the camera set up to take a family photo. You have grown to love my remote shutter trigger, once you retro designed it by swiftly pulling out and bending off the antenna you were shooting away. I have about 20 photos like the one below, each with slightly different expressions. There are a couple of funny photos where you are clearly waiting to see what is going to happen when you push it.
* You really took pleasure in trying to sing happy birthday to baby Jesus. We have a small Nativity Scene from Bolivia (I think). It consists of a donkey, a cow, a little box, baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Daddy and I have put it out each year of our 11 year marriage. This year baby Jesus got to travel away from his manger, his mother Mary and Joseph safely in your little hands. He did little dances while you exclaimed, "Don't drop it! Don't drop it! Then you would returned him to his little box. The cow did not fare as well and found a new home under the couch in three pieces. Luckily Mother Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and the donkey made it back to storage in one piece ready to bring happiness again next year.
* We did have a white Christmas this year. Your mouth open like a little bird snowflakes stacked on your taffy tongue. I pulled you around on the sled a bit too. Happy in the snow until your glove repellent hands made contact and screams of, "cold, cold, hot," passed your vocal chords faster than your breath allowed for it to make the words audible thus you rushed to get back into the house for warmth. There will be a year where we can play in the snow without your hands stinging...because you'll wear those cute mittens sittin' in your dresser.
* We also tried our hand at edible play dough this season. It consists of powdered milk, honey and peanut butter. It was okay to play with but you enjoyed eating it more. The recipe made such a large amount that I had to figure out what to do with it. A million times a day we sit in the kitchen window checkin' out the lives of the squirrels and I had it! We stuck some of the extra on the tree outside the window. It clung for a couple days and it gave you something to check on each morning. Then one afternoon as if we felt the moment had come we drew to the window and watched a squirrel snatch off the dough in one piece and scatter to the limbs of the tree to eat it. Shocked that we were there to witness it with my camera in hand we both looked at each other with surprised mouths hanging open. For a few days after the great snatch and run caper you'd tell me the story of how the squirrel ate your cookie dough. * We made sugar cookies. With our baked goods decorated and ready to eat you threw your hands above your head to celebrate eating time.
* In order to make special gifts for Grandpa Tim and Daddy Corey, Brook, Lily, you and I met at the ceramics store. Your behavior was stellar over all. While waiting for our buddies to arrive we examined the paint brushes and painted with water on our manila paper. You took painting Grandpa Tim's plate somewhat seriously. You started with random strokes and splotches then you told me you wanted some green. I squeezed some out for you and you started painting and said, "Tractor!" Well, you are a brilliant abstract modernest for certain! Upon picking up our project you pointed to the green squiggle in the corner and told me again, "tractor!" Lily did a mug for her daddy. When she wasn't too into painting so you tried to help her. Not to have her daddy's mug to be painted by some boy her creative juices started flowing and she became her own little maestro of the glaze colors.
* Your climbing has reached new heights and daring. Grandpa Tim's presents were delivered about a week before Christmas. I just left them by the door but you had other plans. You stacked them up to use as stairs to sit in the unused planter area of the buffet that flanks our fireplace. As you pulled out old Halloween candy you took the opportunity to taunt me through the Brady Bunchesque screen.
* Santa visited our house a day early so he could beat the on coming cold. So around 9:30 on the 23rd we woke you up to unwrap your treasures. It was fun to see you treat each gift with excitement, the two big boy PJ sets, a tent and tunnel, a John Deere tractor, your power toothbrush, books, a Green Lantern t-shirt and a sleeping bag. You enjoyed taking Dolly into the tent to play on your sleepin' bag. The excitement tuckered you out quickly and so while you took a mid-day nap Mama and Dahdoo (although you've been calling each other Tantamoose lately) opened our gifts to each other. 
* On the 25th we awoke early trekking to Columbus to make our rounds. First it was a traditional morning brunch feast with Grandma LaJean, GG, Aunties Krispie and Carrie. There was no need to ask GG if she received the Christmas card and packet of pictures we sent her. It was quickly apparent when we discovered that her adorable little Christmas village had been demoted to mini easels creating a table top shrine dedicated to Henny. Let's just say your Christmas haul from Krispie and Carrie was so obscene it came with a pre-Christmas phone call warning. "Uh, Please don't be mad. As I was wrapping I realized I looked a little bit crazy. I had to finish up wrapping by just stuffing a bunch of stuff into one box!" 
She really found you some pretty kick arse stuff and I'll try to keep an accurate list but I know it is going to take a lot of brain power...let's see....a little tape recorder w/ two mics, a little train track, two books by Mo Willems, a ton of sweaters, a pair of boots, two pairs of shoes, Crackers matching game, and an awesome tool box to expand your tool obsession. You may think, "Man, Aunties Krispie and Carrie must be rich!" Nope, just smart and persistent Value Village/Value World thrift store shoppers.
Grandma LaJean bought you a cool ring toss game that we've already played with Dahdoo, a car transportation truck with a little guy driving we named Lou, and a super cool tools puzzle. GG gave you a little dog with antlers and cash. The talented Auntie Krispie played us a couple songs on her banjo, one of your favorite instruments to pick out in songs.
Then we all tried to find the pickle on the tree for the surprise gift. With little effort Krispie was this years victor happy with the Star Wars Trouble game. Of course we also listened to the traditional Christmas album and then some Sufjan Stevens. I went looking for you to find you in front of the stereo swaying back and forth to the music. Such a sweet ending to a wonderful afternoon.
*Around 3:30 we packed up our first load of goodies and quickly made the 6 miles to Bahboo and Grandma P's. We unwrapped our gifts immediately and in quick fashion. The excitement wasn't hidden on your face when you opened Bahboo and Grandma P's presents...a cool front loader that works, a bunch of musical instruments and a dump truck!
Grandma also made sure she had blueberries stocked up which your swift grubbers snatched when I opened the fridge to get out the milk. You didn't mind that you knocked them all over the place. You sat your butt down on the edge of the fridge and ate them anyway. We had a nice dinner of ham, sweet potatoes, corn casserole, and green bean casserole. Lovely!
* Again this year we listened to the first message from J, your birth mom, asking us to be your parents. Thursday, December 25th, 2009 at 5:35. Then we texted her a Merry Christmas! and told her how much we love her.
*Finally, we are rounding out the season by making thank you card art. You are in love with art time. Mommy cuts and places glue and you choose paper, stickers, stamps and markers to decorate your creations. I think we've come up with some pretty cute things. You have been requesting art time which I am very happy to oblige.
A long post but a summary of our busy season. Looking forward to next year but happy for a break!
Love, Mama
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