Two Precious Girls

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Take Two

Lily was so happy to be able to perform her favorite Christmas song, Santa Claus is Coming to Town that she wanted to sing it once again. As did Sophia. I hope you like it...

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

This song is another classic that I remember learning at a very young age. Apparently they still teach it at a very young age because Lily already knows the song...well, kind of.

First, the lyrics and then an interpretation by Lily:

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen,

Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen.

But do you recall

The most famous reindeer of all?

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer

Had a very shiny nose

And if you ever saw it

You would even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer

Used to laugh and call him names

They never let poor Rudolph

Join in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas eve

Santa came to say:

"Rudolph with your nose so bright

won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then how the reindeer loved him

As they shouted out with glee

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer

You'll go down in history.

Please enjoy a three year old's interpretation of this classic:

Twas The Night Before Christmas

On this day before Christmas, I thought it would be nice to go back to the classics and read a poem that I have been reading to my girls all month long...

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads;

And Mamma in her kerchief and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave the lustre of midday to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the housetop the coursers they flew,

With a sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Monday, December 21, 2009

We all have our favorite Christmas carols that we enjoy singing, whether in public or when we are alone for no one to hear. Sophia and Lily are no exception and they have taken a big liking to one song in particular, Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Below I have posted both a video of them singing and the lyrics to the song. Please just sit back and enjoy...

You better watch out!

You better not cry!

You better not pout!

I'm telling you why,

Santa Claus is comin' to town.

He's making a list

He's checking it twice.

He's going to find out who's naughty and nice.

Santa Claus is comin' to town.

He sees you when you're sleeping.

He knows when you're awake.

He knows if you've been bad or good.

So be good for goodness sake!

You better watch out!

You better not cry!

You better not pout!

I'm telling you why,

Santa Claus is comin' to town.

With little tin horns and little toy drums,

rootie-toot-toots and rum-a-tum tums.

Santa Claus is comin' to town.

The boys and girls in toyland

will have a jubilee.

They're going to build a toyland

all around the Christmas tree.

You better watch out!

You better not cry!

You better not pout!

I'm telling you why,

Santa Claus is comin' to town.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Tasty Traditions

I love traditions, especially when they involve Christmas. I think traditions are what make the holiday season better and happier. This year I tried making something we used to have around every Christmas at my grandma's house...

ITALIAN COOKIES

The taste of the anise always made them unique and were always a taste I remembered. So when I made them and tasted them this year, the many memories of Christmas past came flowing back. It was as if all of these great memories were packed into these tiny, bite-size cookies.

That's when you know you have a great annual tradition that needs to be carried on, when a taste or smell can remind you of your childhood.

I caught Lily sneaking these cookies as they were cooling. She said to me, "Mmm! These are the best cookies I ever had. Where did you buy these from?"

"Believe it or not Lily, mommy made these. It's something we always had at great grandma's house. It was a tradition."

"Well, we should have these all the time."

And that's how traditions are made. I just hope that when Lily is older that she can take one bite and feel all of the wonderful joy that I felt from this little cookie.

I will be sure to add one other ingredient to make sure she remembers...LOVE!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Budding Artist

I remember making things in school for my parents, especially around the holidays. I remember the reindeer made out of clothespins, the empty walnut shell ornament with the glitter and tiny mouse inside and the Christmas wreaths made out of beads.

I was very excited to see that twenty plus years later that the tradition continues. When picking Lily up from school today, she was armed with the many Christmas art projects that she had been working on...