Christmas Morning

The girls reacted to the coming of Christmas in ways unique to them. Amanda slept perfectly; awoke around 7 am and when she made it to the living room she calmly, somewhat reverently, remarked, "Oh, yes, it's Christmas. I see my dump truck and a skateboard." Elizabeth, on the other hand, the one who supposedly should be too young to understand that the next day would be a special one, would not sleep for more than an hour at a stretch, and was wide awake at 4 am playing with her new toy with her dad.

Amanda's wants were modest - a big yellow dump truck and a skateboard. The highlight of the morning was when she climbed up on the couch next to her dad and said, "Thank you for Christmas, Daddy." How freaking cute is that?




Elizabeth didn't exactly ask for anything. She seemed mildly interested in the toys under the tree, but she was obviously more enamored of the pigs-in-blankets, which were my mom's Christmas morning specialty.






Santa treated the Brantley house well this year. Despite the sleepless nights and early mornings, Brian and I are trying to savor these early years in our daughters' lives when all it takes to make them happy on Christmas morning are inexpensive toys and greasy breakfast treats.

The Ballad of the Failed Christmas Card Picture

So many times since January Brian and I foolishly remarked to each other, "Our Christmas card picture is going to be so cute this year."

Then in a flash Christmas season is here. It is time to take our perfect, current picture of our beautiful and cooperative gifts from God otherwise known as Amanda and Elizabeth.

How long can it take to get a cute picture of two beautiful, happy kids? How long, indeed.

FAILED CHRISTMAS CARD ATTEMPT #1: Me alone with the kids in the front yard and my antique digital camera.




Time to call in reinforcements. Grandpa Ron to the rescue with his Super Duper Fancy Digital Camera.

FAILED CHRISTMAS CARD ATTEMPT # 2: It is a 40 degree day. Amanda refuses to wear the white shirt that goes under her jumper. No amount of M&M's or ice cream or threats of time-out will convince her to put on the shirt. Grandpa Ron does not even attempt to hide his amusement in watching me try to get Amanda to put on the shirt. Apparently I was a very picky about my clothes as a child. So off we go to the park, with Amanda wearing a sleeveless jumper on one of the coldest days of the year. Here are the results:



This is one cold, stubborn kid.

FAILED CHRISTMAS CARD ATTEMPT #3: Still not giving up, I resort to the Picture People in the Galleria. I let Amanda pick out an entire outfit at the kids clothing store next door to the studio. She is in heaven. This would work for sure. Alas, Elizabeth is terrified and it takes about 15 minutes for her to loosen her grip on me long enough to get her to sit down, and by then Amanda is done smiling. If it were traditional for kids in Christmas card pictures to look stoic and serious like these folks.



Then this picture would have been great:




FAILED CHRISTMAS CARD ATTEMPT #4: Grandpa Ron comes back again. This time he sets up the tripod. Elizabeth has just been fed. Naptime isn't for another hour; she should be perfectly happy. And we come the closest we will come to getting a usable picture. Amanda looks beautiful and is smiling happily. Elizabeth on the other hand looks like some evil woman just stole her pacifier. Perhaps that's because some evil woman did just steal her pacifier.



Well, folks. That's it. I GIVE UP. You will get a Christmas card this year. Gracing it's cover will be a lovely picture of a beautiful 2.5 year old Amanda and a six month old Elizabeth. And next year, we'll get a professional picture. I have learned my lesson.

More New Tricks

Earlier this week the girls and I took a picnic lunch to Discovery Green. (You can still call it a picnic even if the food came from the Wendy's drive-thru window, right?) Brian came over from work and played with us for a little while. We checked out the outdoor ice rink. Yes, you read that correctly. Houston now has an outdoor ice rink. It was closed, but maybe another day we'll actually skate on it.




While we were there, both girls accomplished something blog-worthy.
Amanda continues to improve her climbing skills. Watch her scale this rope. Warning: My voice is a lot louder than hers on this video.






Elizabeth is walking! She takes slow, deliberate steps. She appears very conscious of the fact that she might fall at any moment and is careful to avoid hurting herself.

Amanda's Quote of the Week

A few weeks ago, Amanda and I had been talking about her birthday and discussing that she would get a present from us for turning 3. With firm conviction, she stated, "Please I want a green soccer shirt for my birthday." Her neighbor has a green soccer shirt, and she had watched with envy as he rode his bike before and after soccer practice while wearing it. We found her a green soccer jersey, complete with matching shorts and socks. She wears this outfit constantly. (It also happens to be the official soccer kit of the Mexican national team.)

***
Amanda and Elizabeth are playing together in Amanda's tent. They crawl in; crawl out; laugh; repeat. Elizabeth goes a little slower than Amanda, and at one point she blocks the entrance to the tent. Amanda shoves her sister out of the way, while exclaiming, "It's gentle, it's gentle!" She hasn't quite gotten the concept that saying something out loud doesn't make it true.