Second Xmas

This is the second Christmas for Baby Shiloh, but it is almost like her first. Last year she was exactly three months old and totally oblivious to what was going on around this time. Not so this year, as she insist that every gift that is so  meticulously wrapped belongs to her.She is like a little squirrel hoarding nuts. I stumble upon half opened gifts all over the house. And of course the decorative ornaments that "The Wife" breaks out of storage and proudly and strategically places on the "little tree" are also fair game. A few moments ago Shiloh came in with a couple of them and ran away from me when I had the audacity to attempt to confiscate them. Back to the "little tree", which by the way, is the title of one of our favorite movies. I refer to it as such because a good buddy of mine persuaded me to purchase it as a fund raising vehicle. Proceeds go to the local high school basketball team, a really worthy cause. Except "The Wife" had her designs set on our customary semi-gigantic topiary spectacle that fills up a room like Bill Cosby. You know, the larger than life, bought to impress kind of thing. She finally came around to the whole "spirit of the season" point of view, albeit reluctantly.
I love this time of year and the way she gets so engaged in maintaining our family traditions, some new, some old. There is the mid-day brunch that features an egg souffle that is quite delicious. It is accompanied by croissants, fruit plate, and juice. For the past twelve years it has been an unmitigated success. It was passed down to her by her mother, who died eight years ago, so it remains an important connection to some very special memories. We'll have my kids and some other friends who have become regulars join us. Shiloh will be bounding about, taking it all in. Another tradition is to have the kids in Santa's lap photo op. Shiloh is screaming bloody murder in her photo she took today, just like her brother did at the same age. Can't have any lingering bad thoughts dominate her mind about the Yule Tide season. We may have to assign her as the official gift unwrapper. She has definitely had enough practice at it... MERRY CHRISTMAS!