Christmas Eve and Morning at the Jensen's

CHRISTMAS EVE: We bake cookies for Santa; reportedly he prefers peanut butter and chocolate chip by the time he gets to our house

We leave them out with a carrot for the reindeer

and Elizabeth pretends to be a baby before she goes to bed.



CHRISTMAS MORNING
We awoke to tears "I'm all wet!"After a quick bath, we head downstairs. Elizabeth liked her stocking pretty well



She opened a few presents but got sucked into her Dora coloring book, and proceeded to spend the next hour coloring all the characters' teeth - blue. Huh.





It's noon, it's snowing, none of her toys arrived yet from Santa and yet we have had a wonderful holiday. The only thing we could ask for it to be with all of you who we love, and who love us so much. Happy Christmas to all.



p.s. overload hits

Lucy is my Homegirl

It has been snowing for a week in Seattle. Our original plan to travel to New England was scotched by the weather. So we are having a stay-at-home Christmas. We're baking and doing a lot of arts and crafts.

One aspect of all the weather is we are watching a little more TV than usual, as Elizabeth absolutely hates the snow, unless she is in her pajamas and crocs, or naked, which limits her exposure to the elements.

Last week, I showed her a sampling of Christmas specials we DVR'd, including Rudolph, Frosty, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and Charlie Brown. She dismissed Frosty after a minute, wouldn't look at SCICTT, and would only watch the part of Rudolph that included the Abominable Snow Monster, which she laughed at.

But oh Charlie Brown. Good old Charlie Brown. She loves Charlie Brown. It's my favorite Christmas program and initially I was moved, imagining that she responded to its gentle message and quiet score. But no.

Specifically, she loves Lucy. How Lucy yells. How she bosses other people around. How she threatens Linus with the five good reasons. Elizabeth told me this morning, with her eyes shining, "I love Lucy Mama." And then cackled. I am worried.

Elizabeth's Letter to Santa

(This is verbatim) Dear Santa Claus, Happy Birthday. I don't run away from Mommy. I pick up, and pet Maggie and Uffe and they are happy. Please bring George to the vet. I ran off George's legs all by myself.

(this next part was interpreted by her father) Please deliver any gifts to Nana and Gege's in Hanover. If there is a ladybug and turtle available for me, they would be greatly appreciated.

Love Elizabeth

6 Inches of snow, more to come

Taken last night during a brief despite in our snowstorm. Holy crap it's cold! I've lived here too long and my blood got thin.

Elizabeth wandered into the backyard at noon fully suited up, lasted 10 minutes and then came inside declaring "It's too cold Mama. Take my coat."

Snow Time

It all started innocently enough. We had snow last night (in Seattle! In December! I know!) This morning, Elizabeth insisted she wanted to go out to play.

It got complicated from there. First, there's the issue of the mittens. She won't wear them. Or gloves. She happily swept the snow from the teak chairs:

It went downhill fast. First the pathetic "mama pick me up" (awesome, all 40 lbs of her.)


Then the "I want to play in my sandbox"


Finally "I want to stay outside. My hands are cold!"

At this point Andy intervened, they went inside, and George and I were left to contemplate why anyone would want to go indoors when it's 23 degrees out and there's snow on the ground. West Coasters. Go figure.