Tornado and Butterfly: Christmas season

Allison was pleased with her new book, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

Upon opening her new book, Allison immediately grabbed it and trotted off to the kitchen to read it alone.

Allison caught on to opening presents quickly.

The xylophone was not as easy to play as everyone else made it look.

Last minute, I had the idea to get a play kitchen for the girls for Christmas. I decided to get one at IKEA, which is down the road, but then I was online and found these adorable, sturdy ones from Elves and Angels (with an oven that opens the proper way - rather than on the side, like most of the ones I've seen). So I ordered one, but it wasn't to arrive until after Christmas, because UPS apparently doesn't keep to their schedule anymore during the holidays (unless I paid extra for 3-day guaranteed shipping). So "Santa" left a note under the tree on Christmas morning telling Nicole and Allison that the reindeer had strained their backs because their present was too big, so the present would be delivered later, with help. Upon reading the note, Nicole immediately asked, "Is it a play kitchen?" She later claimed that she wanted a play kitchen for Christmas, but she didn't ask Santa for one (when she was on his lap) because she thought it was too big to fit on his sleigh (apparently she was right). I didn't quite believe her, until she brought home her Christmas wish list when she returned to school in the new year, and on it was written, "pla cichin."

Of course, I felt bad about deceiving Nicole with a note from "Santa," so I asked her critical thinking questions, like, "Is Santa real? Who wrote the note?"

As for whether she believes in Santa, prior to Christmas, she said she half did, and half didn't. She half did, because she saw him twice (at a church party and at school), and she half didn't because, "he's really old." Daddy fairly asked, "Grandma and Grandpa are really old. Do you believe in them?" After Christmas, she revised her belief. She decided she didn't believe in Santa Claus because he uses magic reindeer, but magic isn't real. I thought it interesting that logic trumps visual "proof."

As for where the presents came from, she says she thinks maybe "Grandma and Grandpa, or Mommy and Daddy, or somebody else puts the presents under the tree. Or maybe the mailman comes at night and sends the presents."