We're settling in after a hectic few weeks -- holidays, birthdays and the snowstorm that knocked out power for 12 hours.
Got home to the Berkshires on the 25th and 26th and it was nice, albeit a little rushed. Sofia loved Christmas -- the first one she started to "get." No Santa yet .. maybe next year. Unlike last year we were actually able to spend the holiday with family, as daddy was not made to work both the 24th and 25th. Take that, former employers....
As for Christmas: Seeing Sofia open presents and enjoy playing with and wearing them made all the difference in our holiday this year. It was magical and heartwarming.
For the record, Sofia is a particular gift opener who can say "presents" with a full meaure of honest glee. She has learned to enjoy the ripping of wrapping paper. But she has also shown us something about patience and appreciating each gift.
Opening a present
Because after each was opened, she did not move on to the next brightly-wrapped bauble, instead insisting upon opening and playing with each particular gift. Some of which weren't even hers.
Trying on Mama's pajamas
That's why her Christmas morning gift opening took an honest-to-goodness two hours. There were
moose to be ridden,
trains to choo-choo,
tools to use,
dresses to wear.
Much to my delight, she quickly took to the play tools, demonstrating excellent hand-eye coordination as well as apitude for working with screwdrivers and hammers. I can't wait to show the pictures to her great grandfather the carpenter and cabinetmaker. Meanwhile, daddy's real tools have gone into hiding before something gets "fixed."
Also needing special mention: her aunt Corrine sent her a beautiful dress and shawl from Georgia.
She tried it on at her grandparents' house and danced happily in front of the Christmas tree.
"Ring around the rosy, pocket full of posies...."
"...Ashes, ashes we all fall down!"
Corrine sure knows how to make Sofia look good.
We went back to EMass on the 27th for the day. We had a nice afternoon with our friends back in greater Boston and were sorry to have to leave -- they are missed.
New Year's Eve, Sofia was back in the Berkshires for the Fairy Princess Ball at the Berkshire Museum with her cousin and grandmothers and aunties.
I was here in CT and could not attend -- but imagine, if you will, an auditorium full of little girls in princess costumes.
Our girl was among the royalty in attendance and she and her cousin looked very adorable indeed.
