every little thing is magic

I am so thankful for my happy, healthy, incredible little girl, and all the ways she made the holidays (and everyday) simply magical.

- Each ornament on our tree and every single Christmas card got the same sincere response from my little one-year-old "OOoohhh, Pretty!"

- Each trip in the car was interrupted every 32 seconds by a shout from the back seat "LIGHTS!". It may have been a regular street lamp 1/2 mile away or a yard full of color right outside her door; she was thrilled by it all.

- I will never be able to sing the correct lyrics to "Do You Hear What I Hear?" again, thanks to Sylvia's favorite Christmas DVD. The words will forever be "Do You Hear What Elmo Hears?"

- For some reason the pretty ornament with two cardinals on our tree was referred to as "Bad Bird!" by Sylvia from the moment she saw it. I have no idea what that was about.

- I still smile when I think of the ornaments John brought home for Sylvia from New Hampshire....The cutest little Cookie Monster and Big Bird you have ever seen. Her Response? "Where's Elmo??"

- The Ames Clearance Angel on the top of our tree never got such special attention. Each day when we left the house: "Bye tree; Bye Angel!!". Last night Sylvia put the angel back in her box and kissed her good-bye until next year.

- John and I were very excited that Santa brought Sylvia a wagon. Sylvia was a bit more excited that Santa brought her underpants. She was still talking about it today, and will probably associate underpants with Santa for the forseeable future......

- Every time I put Sylvie in her little red "Santa's Helper" dress, she shouted "Halloween!!"

- On Christmas morning, Sylvia was so excited by each present, that I really didn't think she would ever open all of her presents. She was far more interested in investigating whatever she had just opened. In the end, she spent the most time playing with one of her old dolls and a water bottle that happened to come with a purse that Santa brought. Simple joys.