Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Bah humbug all neatly tied up neatly with a really pretty bow...what a great title, huh? Yeah, I thought so. It's been a very long year and most recently some pretty cool stuff has happened near the end of it. Besides it being Christmas, again, I have been reacquainted with a biological cousin who lives in Florida - coincidentally near my stepdaughter. What a small world it really is. So on to what else has been happening as of late...I had begun to think that Carli would not be getting a Christmas this year. However, I couldn't have been more wrong. Thanks to the generosity of a couple of my co-workers Carli has a couple of presents under the tree and James was able to go out and buy her some neat toys. For her brand new baby doll (yes, I know she's 7 now, but she needs a new baby doll!) he bought a diaper bag and a Disney Princess Feeding Set. She also got a Sock Monkey named Maxx, some candy to go in her stocking, a Disney Fairie Nail Salon - my idea - a 3 pack of Littlest Pet Shop animals, a 5' pink feather boa, a Disney Easy Go Yo-yo (it automatically retrieves itself), Disney Card Game Pack (in its own vinyl bag, no less) and an 18" Cutie Pie baby doll. These are not exactly what she was asking for this year, but what she wanted was out of reach and the money just isn't here. Oh well. I'm certain she'll be happy with what she is given. And! I almost forgot to mention, Carli lost her first tooth last night (12/23). She put it in a plastic baggie and put it under her pillow and took herself to bed at 8 p.m. didn't ask for anything or get up for a drink of water or anything. By the time I went in to play the 'tooth fairy' role all parents get to play (oh, and my first time doing it, btw) I took my camera in to get a picture of her sleeping. She's a very beautiful child and I am in no way biased about that fact, either. HA! She has promised me that she will go to bed tonight at 8 p.m. so Santa can bring her presents. Such an amazing child.
