Christmas festivities are in full swing around here... we've got Elvis music playing, lights in the tree outside (just one, though - I have no patience for things that tangle easily!), trees inside (Sadie has her own in her room) and greenery everywhere. The kids are wearing red (and their jingley-socks), and I'm almost completely done with shopping AND wrapping (Yes, I am one of THOSE people!). Last night, we made cookies, and Josie helped. Let's just say that once Josie learned that she could help, Josie did not want to STOP helping. We ended up with flour all over the floor, sprinkles in every nook and cranny, green icing on her nose, and a really good holiday memory. She also proved to me that her little brain is working overtime these days, even if she's still not talking very much. She dumped out the bin filled with gloves, mittens, scarves, etc. and pulled out one little mitten. She then proceeded to take it over to the drawer next to the stove where I keep the oven mitts and potholders; she pulled open the drawer and put the mitten in with the oven mitts! It was so cute, since she 
obviously thought that the mitten was just a mini oven-mitt!Sadie wore her reindeer antlers around the house today and we read Christmas stories. She is very impressed that Baby Jesus actually was born in a barn. "With all the animals! Mooing, and quacking, and neighing. It was kinda loud in there." She now can quote, "To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall, now dash away, dash away, dash away all!" Every Christmas light we see is still, "OH! How Be-yoo-ti-FULL!" Josie likes the lights too, but she seems to be a more reflective sort. She likes to sit and look and take it all in, but Sadie likes to keep a running commentary. :)
