Brown Skins and Santa

Last night my daughter and I went to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the famous Radio City Rockettes. It was a fun show with amazing choreography, great songs and beautiful costumes. While I will suggest that it becomes a family holiday tradition to go see the show, I won't remember it fondly year after year for any of the above reasons. No, it will be because of my perceptive and inquisitive 5 year-old.

"Look, mom, there's a brown skin," she said excitedly. A few moments later - "There's another brown skin...wow!" She was referring to the two beautiful African American Rockettes. You couldn't miss them, as they were the chocolate brown legs doing those eye high kicks. The first time she said it, I acknowledged her excitement. The second time, I cringed...not because I was embarrassed at what she said, but because she was really LOUD. I used it as a teachable moment, and quietly talked about how great it was to see these women, and that she, too, could be a Rockette or anything that she chose. This amazed and inspired her, and she insisted on "kicking" while we walked to the car after the show.

After we get through the first scene, the "brown skin" Rockettes are no longer a novelty. Her excitement turns to Santa and his antics throughout the show. As the performance winds down, the final scene is the story of the first Christmas, and includes a living nativity complete with camels and sheep. We whisper together about the story of Jesus' birthday, and here is was in the show. She thought the animals were cool. But, the true insight into her thoughts came with her LOUD question, "But, where did Santa go?" Again, I cringed, and realized that it was, indeed, time to go home.

Excitement...and Lots of It

I wish that I could bottle the excitement that is in the air in our house. It's so thick that you could cut it with a knife...one of those toy ones that came with the Little Tikes to kitchen. Yes, the children are excited, and it's contagious!

Thanksgiving
We just came off of a grand Thanksgiving weekend. Our time with family in PA was fun and relaxing. I was amused by watching my girls amuse everyone else. I was also amused by my family's rendition of Guesstures. So, we ate too much, but what else is new on Thanksgiving. It was good to laugh and reminisce with those you love. And, we came home with Christmas presents...lots of them.

And, I even watched a little tiny bit of football. Can someone explain to me again why the Lions play each Thanksgiving when they are so horrible? Is it supposed to make me thankful that I live in Cleveland and we have the Browns?I would have preferred a holiday version of Real Housewives of ATL....that would really make me thankful...for my sanity, integrity, family, friends...you get the picture.

Holiday Decorations
We put up our Christmas tree on Sunday evening. We have an artificial tree with the lights already on it. It's time for a new tree. a real tree or a really expensive faux tree. But, neither is the case for this year, so we will settle with what we have...the one that has caused so much excitement. The most hilarious part of the evening was watching Lindsay take the ornaments off as we put them on. Needless to say, the majority of the decorations are on the top third of the tree, just out of her reach. Overall, it's a step above Charlie Brown's tree, but we love it. Each year my gaol is to buy each girl a new ornament for the tree. Then, when they are ready to move on, they can take their special ornaments with them to decorate their first tree.

Every time we come down the steps or walk into the room, we can't help but smile when we see the tree. And, just think, those presents aren't even there yet.I won't be able to handle the excitement at that point...we better wait until mid-December.