A Milestone Christmas

So, this is the first year that Allie has an awareness of the Christmas holiday.  Last year she was able to recognize Santa; but this year she understands that he will bring her presents.  She's also able to help decorate the tree, make ornaments, help bake cookies, name things she would like Santa to bring her, enjoy giving presents, get excited about lights, learn Christmas songs, learn the Christmas story, enjoy productions etc., etc.  I'm enjoying it so much that I'm having a hard time not completely overwhelming her with holiday-related activities.  It's SO fun to experience the holidays through her eyes.  I bought an advent calendar for the first time ever.  (Each day you add a sticker and watch the manger scene come together.)  I also bought a gingerbread house kit for Allie and I to make together; but haven't had the energy to take on the inevitable mess that I know will come with it.  (Actually, I'm second-guessing that particular choice of activity!)

Because I have such fond memories of having my very own tree as a child, I gotAllie her very own tree this year and we decorated it the other night.  I purchased several individual ornaments, as well as a bulk package of plastic candy canes.  Grammy contributed a bulk package of mini glass balls, and another package of candy canes. When we decorated, Allie felt compelled to pair each individual ornament with both a candy cane and a glass ball and connect them all together via a single wire ornament hanger before hanging it as a "clump" onto the tree.   And of course she hung all the clumps in one tiny area of the tree.  It was hilarious and I enjoyed every second of it, even though I had to separate everything back out and distribute them evenly on the tree later.

Here is am example of the ornament-ball-candy cane clump:

I periodically ask Allie what she wants Santa to bring her just because it's so fun to see what she has on her mind at that point in time.  The only item she mentions every time is a bike.  Other items oftened mentioned are "animals" (I have no idea what she means though), "lots and lots of puzzles" (puzzles are indeed her favorite toy right now), and..... "a blue dragon" (presumably because she is obsessed with talking about the dragons in the Shrek movie and her favorite color is blue).