Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas!!

This is our first year spending Christmas alone in Toronto as a family with Zoe. Thus, it is a year of establishing traditions, some intentional, some incidental, and probably some which will not even be recognized as traditions until years from now. Time will tell which ones will stick.

We spent Christmas Eve (day) at the Science Centre, returning home in time to make cookies for Santa and enjoy some Christmas curry for dinner before an early bedtime for all.

Like most other days, our Christmas day began around 7 AM with Zoe announcing that she was awake. In spite of setting out cookies for Santa right before going to bed last night, Zoe, upon waking, had to be reminded that today was Christmas. It took her a minute to process that little bit of information, but that proved to be her only quiet minute all day! Once it sunk in she charged full steam ahead into the events of the day.

First stop - checking out the gifts from Santa!Chengis must have had a few good moments during the year because Santa remembered him with a stocking full of dog treats, eagerly emptied and fed by Zoe.
Merry Christmas to Chengis from Zoe!After Santa's gifts had been opened it was time for a breakfast of waffles followed by getting dressed and the daily dog walk. While Daddy was walking Chengis, Zoe got down to business with some new toys, seemingly oblivious to the pile of family gifts that remained to be opened. While we had not anticipated it being possible, we were more than happy to let the festivities drag out with long interludes of play between multiple spurts of gift opening. We had no plans and nothing better to do, so why not?! In fact, the morning of play lasted so long that we did not get around to tackling the second pile of gifts until after lunch.

The opening of family gifts was preceded by an attempt at a family photo.Posing in front of our family gifts. A Crayola and craft bonanza!And scissors, too!!!Zoe now has her very own 'puter (a.k.a. computer), though it was the opening of her very own camera that was accompanied by squeals of delight and jumping up and down.The day ended with our annual Tofurky dinner. Here are Zoe and Julian hamming it up after opening Christmas crackers. Zoe refused to put her hat on and Julian refused to take his off.Now to backtrack with a Santa update. We started the season with Zoe stating that, like many small children, she was afraid of Santa. We took our cues from her and did not force the issue or try to impose visits to Santa. However, we kept accidentally running into Santa walking around shopping centres and at a couple parties. Each time she encountered him up close and personal, she decided that she liked him. But that would be followed by announcements that she had been bad so Santa did not have to come to her house. And in case being bad was not enough, she announced that she did not want any presents so Santa did not need to come. Apparently she was experiencing her first love-hate relationship! It was obvious that she was interested and intrigued but the fear kept overriding everything else.

A week ago Santa made a scheduled appearance at our local library, one of Zoe's favourite places. We asked if she wanted to go and she said "yes" a bit to our surprise. She even agreed to sit on his lap, but only if Mama (Zoe's newest name for Sara) stayed right beside her. From that day on, the fear began to take a back seat to the intrigue. When asked on multiple occasions what she hoped Santa would bring her, she consistently answered, "lollipops, candy canes and a bunny." Note the sweet tooth and a soft spot for animals! Santa must have been listening because her stocking contained all three items this morning!

Several of today's gifts captured her attention (lollipops, the camera, the computer, lollipops, craft items, lollipops), but none as much as the doctor kit that Santa delivered. She enjoyed playing the patient as much as the doctor. Over and over and over and over and over.....

In closing, we feel it is safe to announce a very special gift for Mama and Daddy: Zoe is officially potty trained! Two weeks ago at the beginning of the holiday break from our regular schedule of activities, we took away diapers for good (except at night). We have not had a single accident! Yay Zoe!