happy christmas

I'm happy to report that we have enjoyed yet another wonderful Christmas. We limited our purchases, and the girls are thrilled as ever with their bounty.

Among other gifts, Santa honored Lauren's request for a unicorn. He brought her a beauty. White with sparkled mane and tail, golden horn, and a pink and purple embroidered chest complete with a pink jewel. "I'm going to name her Julie!" Lauren proclaimed. When asked how she decided on that name she replied, "Because she has a jewel!" Jewely. It's perfect.

Santa also brought Ella her requested gifts, among them a map for collecting U.S. quarters. She gasped when she saw it. The day after Christmas, as I wrapped the girls in towels after their bath, Ella said, "Mom, I want to write Santa another letter."

"You do?" I asked. "What are you going to say?"

"Thank you."

short list

Tonight we watched The Polar Express, then settled in on the couch to write our letters to Santa. Ella wrote her own and I dictated Lauren's.

Lauren began, "Santa," then seemed to draw a blank.

I asked, "What do you want for Christmas, Lauren?"

"I don't know," she said, sounding surprised. She cocked her head in my direction, "What do I don't have, and what do I do have?" She paused. "I want something I don't have."

"What don't you have?"

"Nothing." She sat on the couch staring at her twirling ankles in silence.

Ella finished her letter quickly and read it aloud:

"Dear Santa, I want a bell from a rnder (reindeer) and a lipsik (lipstick) that you can eat and a panting (painting) set wth (with) a set uv (of) papr (paper) and a stat (state) map that has a plac (place) that you can clect (collect) qarts (quarters) in. Thank you, Santaclas. Love, Ella Moore"

It was all the inspiration Lauren needed. "Mom," she said, " I want a painting set, and a lipstick I can eat the same as Ella."

"Better put 'Ella Moore'," Ella suggested. "There are a lot of Ellas." I wrote it in.

"And," said Lauren, "I want a lollipop and a sucker."

"Aren't those the same thing?"

"No," she said , as if the notion were ridiculous.

"A lollipop is big and a sucker is small."

I reminded her that she mentioned she wanted a stuffed unicorn.

"Yes!" she beamed. And that rounded out her list.

How long will their lists be this simple? I'm going to enjoy it while I can.

dear santa

Ella and Lauren were in a particularly talkative mood at bedtime tonight. So, I decided to launch the inquiry.

"Lauren, what are you going to ask Santa to bring you this year?"

"A dog," she smiled. "A real one."

"We can't have a dog, Lauren. We don't have a yard." A familiar phrase.

"We can still have a dog," Ella pined.

"How?"

"Grandma and Grandpa can keep him at their house!" Brilliant, I told her. But the answer was still no.

"What else do you want Santa to bring you, Lauren?" She answered instantaneously.

"A huge eyeball!" She clasped her hands over her head to indicate its enormous size.

I asked the obvious question,"Why?" She wasn't listening.

"And it will have a nose, so that it can sniff me, like a dog. Dogs like to sniff my feet, or any part of me I put under the table. And especially my butt." Ella erupted into laughter. "I know!" Lauren continued,"I know a lot about dogs!"

"What else, Lauren?" She fired back immediately.

"A giant fan for our room!"

"You have a fan in your room."

"But it's not a giant one!"

"Lauren, it's a ceiling fan. How big do you want it?"

"Giant."

"Okay. What else." She didn't hesitate.

"A pogo stick," she said, then added matter-of-factly, "I want to have a collection of pogo sticks." I was so confused.

"Anything else, Lauren?"

"Underwear."

Satisfied, I turned to Ella, "And what would you like?"

"A desk for my room so that I can do my homework." She joyfully imitated herself writing and completing endless pages. "And a computer! So I can write my first story, and print it!" As I gazed at her with wonder and gratitude, Lauren interrupted,

"And I want a hairball!" She raised her arms above her head again, then laughed. "It's gonna be huge."

"And," Ella added, "I want my own bathroom."

Underwear it is.

christmas concert

Tonight we had some of Mom and Dad's neighbors over to make some soup for a local women's shelter. When the cooking was done we settled into the living room for a little variety show. As she likes to do, Lauren volunteered to go first. She stood up on a bench in front of the crowd of about 20 people and sang her own a capella version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, her favorite song of the season this year. As her mom, I can tell you that no one could possibly sing it more adorably. My favorite parts are when she sings, "They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games -- like Punopula!" and, "Santa came to say, 'Ho . . . ho . . . ho.'" Just as confidently as her sister, Ella climbed up and sang her version of Jingle Bells, and very happily jingled all the way. Of course, they both got a very generous applause and I was so proud of them, my little Christmas carollers.

white christmas

We've finally arrived in Spokane, and just barely. Freezing fog and falling snow threatened to keep us in Seattle last night, but we were able to land and then carefully make our way on the unplowed roads to Grandma & Grandpa's house. We woke up to 20 inches of snow this morning and look forward to enjoying it on the slopes in the next few days. We'll build some snow people later this afternoon, but for now it's warm cookies from the oven, a glowing fire, a capella carols, and decorating a freshly cut Christmas tree. It won't get better than this until Steven and Travis arrive. The snow is still falling, but I'm sure they'll make it, just barely.

merry christmas, teachers

Tonight I helped the girls make Christmas cards for their teachers. I gave them folded cards and helped them write "Merry Christmas" on the front, and "I hope Santa brings you a . . . " on the inside. They chose what they wanted Santa to bring, drew the appropriate pictures, and decorated the front of the card.

For Ms. Lynn, Lauren wrote, "I hope Santa brings you Wonder Pets!" Ella helped her draw a barely recognizable Tuck (turtle) and Lenny (guinea pig), and a quite remarkable Ming Ming (duck) -- all with capes, of course.

For Ms. Carter, Ella knew immediately what Santa should bring. "She would LOVE a shooshing machine. She hates shooshing us all the time!" I told her which letters to write and she drew an abstract contraption. (I wrote a little p.s. of explanation for Ms. Carter.) On the front, she drew a decorated Christmas tree and stocking.

For Ms. Jurkevics, the teaching assistant, Ella needed a few minutes but finally decided on "a sparkly lipstick with aroma." For the front of the card Ella drew an angel who, despite her wings, looked more like a demon given her apparent huge, red, empty eye sockets. I suggested a silver halo to help clear up any confusion.

oh, christmas tree

Last night our good friends, the Sherinians, invited us over to their house for Family Home Evening. We read a beautiful story book about the Savior's birth, then asked Lauren to pick her favorite song. For once, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" fit perfectly with the lesson. We moved to the living room and decorated their gorgeous tree with ornaments from various times and places. (They served in the foreign service for ten years and have a beautiful variety of ornaments, as well as furniture and art throughout their home.) When the decorating was done, the kids -- Ella, Lauren, and their two of the same ages, Adam and Julia -- adjourned to the play room for oreos, games, and coloring pages while the adults shared an apple tart and cider. It was such a fun night! We hadn't had Family Home Evening with another family for so long, I'd forgotten how great it can be. So, here's to more shared FHEs in 2009! And thank you, Sherinians.