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We have a tradition of going to my Aunt Mary and Uncle Don’s house for Christmas Eve. We sit around and talk and eat and eat and eat. This year was very special in that 2 of my cousins have had babies this year as has my sister and of course, LiLi came into our lives. The last time we were all together, LiLa was the only child in the family and now there are 5 children. We all dressed in our outfits that we had bought in China. I was suprised that LiLi’s outfit still fit but it did. LiLi has one cousin(2nd cousin once removed to be exact) whose mother is Chinese so he, too, was wearing a special Chinese outfit.

Christine with baby Clare in the sling, Lila, LiLi, Luke and Atticus

LiLi fell asleep at Aunt Mary and Uncle Don’s and we put her in her carseat for the ride home and rather than falling back to sleep, she just stared off into space and then every once in a while she would say Santa and then go off into her trance. She did this the whole 1 hour car ride home. Once she was put in her crib she just rolled onto her side and fell asleep.

A few weeks ago we had our first snow storm. It came down quickly. We decided to take LiLi out into it. LiLi does not particularly like to be dressed in her snowsuit. I then realized that she did not have any snow boots so she is wearing a pair of cowboy boots we bought this summer in Montana. She and I lasted only about 5 minutes outside before I was cold and she had decided enough was enough.

Maggie and LiLi in the snow

Maggie and LiLi in the snow

Inside after being in the snow. Notice the cowboy boots.

I went to buy her a pair of snow boots a day or 2 later but the selection was horrible so she still doesn’t have any but I decided that she does have a pair of shoes that work until I find a better selection(which will likely be next year).

Well, with the end of November and the beginning of December, the Christmas season has begun. I must say that it is nice to be able to enjoy this season again now that we have LiLi to celebrate it with us. And, of course, because of LiLi we started the season by going to see Santa at the Zoo, the weekend after Thanksgiving. LiLi was not quite sure what to make of Santa when she first saw but as he was singing, he was ok. However, once he came near her, the fun was over.

Watching Santa singing. This isn’t so bad

Santa is ok in the distance but not so close even if he has given me a present

Now, after seeing the above picture, you will be suprised to find out that Santa has become one of her favorite words. I blame this on her Nana who must have a million Santas in her house and has managed to brainwash LiLi into a Christmas/Winter fanatic. Her other favorite thing now is snowmen and the song “Frosty the Snowman.” Actually, she calls snowmen “Thumpety-Thumps.” We were at the mall the other day and there was almost no one there so we stopped to look at Santa who came up and was talking to LiLi. She did not cry this time but just stared at him with this scared, awed look. He then gave her a coloring book which she would not reach for from him but gladly took from me. I then turned her stroller around and we had not walked more than three feet when she looked at her coloring book and started saying “Santa” over and over again.

To continue the holiday celebrations, we went last weekend and cut down our Christmas tree. Both LiLi and Maggie seemed to enjoy this trip and there was a huge Santa on the premises that made LiLi just stare in absolute awe. Our tree is now up in its stand but we have not had the chance to put up and lights or ornaments. I think that will be coming over the next few days as we may be stuck in the house after all the snow that has fallen outside but it should also give us some more pictures. More later.

Mommy and LiLi check out a tree

Daddy, LiLi and Maggie

Uncle Jay and Aunt Brett came to visit over the Thanksgiving week and LiLi had a lot of fun with both of them. Of course, Aunt Brett had made her a new shirt to go under a pair of real overalls and in which she looked quite cute. Aunt Brett also spent the whole week laughing at everything she did just like LiLi’s Nana so, of course, LiLi just hammed it up some more. By the end of the week, she was on such a high from being laughed at and adored that it took her a good week to realize that that was not always the way it is. Sometimes she does have to be told no and of course, her Mom seems to be the one that falls upon. Uncle Jay and LiLi took a little more time to get comfortable with each other. LiLi was actually scared of him at first but I think it may just be the beard. After a day or so she learned that he was an easy touch if you wanted to have a book or 3 or 4 read to you and since that is LiLi’s favorite activity, she and Uncle Jay spent a lot of time reading. They spent so much time reading that when I was talking to Uncle Jay a week or so ago and put him on speaker phone, LiLi immediately made the sign for book and kept on doing it insistently. Uncle Jay has promised to read her a book the next time we talk with him.