Santa Claus

We had been talking about Christmas for a couple of weeks. We got a tree. We were reading her The Night Before Christmas. She met Santa and thought he was pretty cool. Then on Christmas Eve, Mirko started telling her that Santa was going to come and leave presents under the tree. She was definitely interested in the idea, but she didn't make a big deal about it. Christmas morning, we didn't say anything, just went about our usual, making coffee etc. Eventually, she wandered into the living room. Then her eyes got very big!!

Not sure when she learned the concept of presents, but she knew these were to be opened!

The aftermath.

Santa brought an easel for the budding artist. Big hit to say the least!

Raggedy Ann and Andy. Love at first sight.

New jammies, Nina ballerina doll and Ann and Andy.

Outfit has changed, but doll remains.

Already been an exciting day. Ready for the party?

San Jose Christmas Downtown. If you look closely, you can see I am sporting my new hat, gloves and purse!

Penguin Flight School.

Many thanks to all the Santas!!

Merry Christmas!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

In what I am sure will be a new annual tradition, we took Nina to the lights and decoration display on Fulton Avenue in Palo Alto. She loved it. Lots of other children, and snowmen, and Santy Clauses...
Here we are at the annual STAR Lab Christmas party. Unlike last year when the sight of Santa made Nina scream uncontrollably, she was happy to see the jolly old elf especially when she realized he was handing out candy canes and other sweet.

Cheese!

Colors

Quick pre-Christmas update. Neat little milestone that Nina has reached here recently is that she seems to get colors. It is amazing how abstract of a concept that is! She has known the words for different colors for quite a while, but if you asked her what color something was the answer was always "green". Now pretty consistently she gets them right... pink, purple, blue, green, yellow! Pretty fun!

Last month we did fashion, so now we'll do hairstyles. Nina's hair has continued to come in in a mass of light brown curls. Sometimes, it is fabulous, bouncy ringlets....


... other times, it is more challenged...


While not ascetically the best shot, this next picture has special significance. This was the first time Nina stacked up her blocks all by herself to make a "towwah". She got those blocks for her first birthday so it is appropriate that she mastered them as she rounds out her second year!

You can see that we both rushed for our cameras. Good thing too because the best part of making a "towwah" is knocking it over.