Christmas Day 2009 Bike Ride

Christmas Day 2009 Bike Ride, originally uploaded by LivysLaughter.

Christmas Test Run

Christmas Test Run, originally uploaded by LivysLaughter.

Christmas was a blast! There was a last minute request: PeaPod was adamant that Santa would bring her the sparkly new purple Hello Kitty two wheeled bike with training wheels. Santa had other wrapped presents planned, but he couldn't let her down! Especially since she would wake up every morning asking about "my Christmas bike". She would come out of her bedroom every morning before Christmas wondering if Santa had brought it yet. "Where's my Christmas bike? Where's Santa?" Who can stand in the way of such faith? So he switched a few toys around and made it happen! This was the first test run she took at 8am Christmas morning. We bundled up (despite being a little sick - hey, cold is good for fevers, right?!?) and took a very quick test ride outside. It was so cold that we scurried back to the house where I turned a blind eye to her riding it around the house. Luckily for my furniture, she steers pretty well and the basement is unfinished!

Build Today

Build today,
then strong and sure,
With a firm and ample base;
And ascending and secure.
Shall tomorrow find its place.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Her Mona Lisa Smile

That smile is 100% her during the rare quiet moment.
The following are true events and are about the above angel. Grandma's wrapped present which was on top of the bookshelf (which is taller than me) was obtained by dragging a large step ladder out of the laundry room into my bedroom, then the said present was unwrapped and the packaging styrofoam was picked into a million little static clinging balls. Where was I, the responsible parent? I was blissfully thinking that at 7am in the morning my daughter was entertained while I took a shower. I came out of the shower wrapped in a towel to find my bedroom had experienced a snowfall of styrofoam. "Snowballs, Mommy!", she exclaimed.

And you have it now!

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.
-- e.e. cummings


Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
-- Dr. Seuss

Originality is... a by-product of sincerity. - Marianne Moore

Thanks Loralee for sending me this email and photo today! It really made my day!

"You had it in you then..."