Birdie Works Out To Ellen

Julie's favorite memory from this Christmas might be when she opened up another of the Ellen Barrett fitness DVDs with which she is currently so taken, and Joe--also taken--hollered upon seeing it, "THE STUDIO!!!!!"  (Ellen comes to you in these DVDs from her studio in Connecticut and many of them bear "The Studio" on their covers.) But Julie and Joe are not the only White House residents taken with Ellen. The other morning, Birdie decided she wanted to work out, and it turns out, she, like Julie, is inspired by pretty work-out wear, as you can see here. Present yourself, Birdie!

Of Royal Lineage

Incidentally, the bambini had an interesting exchange this morning in which princesses figured. They were at Target with Julie doing the week's shopping and Birdie was refusing to move over in the big cart to allow Joe to climb up. Now it's true: Joe could have walked around. But Julie had already asked Clara to move over and as Koe pointed out to her, "Mommy is the boss." He notes that when she grew up and was a Mommy, she could be the boss. Clara-- through tears--informed him she wasn't going to be a mommy; she was going to be a princess. That's when Joe broke it down further for her in a very that's-what-you-think tone, telling her that princesses were the king's mommies.  That's when the Mommy Boss (the Queen) said she was going to count to five and by the time she got to five, she wanted the princes-to- be to have moved. And thus was peace restored to the realm.

All Hail Princesses!

As we recently reported, Clara got no fewer than three princess dresses for Christmas--one Tinkerbell dress, and two Ariel dresses. Clara also received two tiaras, two wands, and three pairs of shoes, as well as some necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Since Christmas, all of these things have been strewn hither and yon about the house as Biride changes from one princess to the next. For a few days, the necklaces, bracelets, and rings were draped and hung on the Christmas tree. (Clara is very much a fan of the Fancy Nancy books, which--for our Fans who do not have girls or girls of a certain age--feature a girl who prefers all things fancy.  Decorating with her jewelry was Clara's way of making the Christmas tree ever more fancy.) But tonight, all of Clara's princess accoutrements are hung in her room from hooks that Grandma Connie and Julie went and got the day after Christmas.

Aunt Kate--always so kind and generous in her perspective--congratulated Juie for embracing the whimsy of childhood. Perhaps, but it was most definitely an expression of Julie's continued embrace of neatness. Still, we knew our Birdie would love it, and indeed, she did. When she saw it, she walked straight up to it and hugged her dresses to her. She looked like a punch drunk bumble bee, in her yellow shirt with the flower on it, and black tights. (The bambini's latest is to dress up as Ariels and tights are a key part of their get-ups.)

Recently, a mother with a daughter younger than Clara asked Julie how she felt about the "princess culture." Julie is afraid she did not seem very erudite when responding because although the princess culture long ago registered as something she, as a Modern Woman, might want to worry about (in the way parents of boys might worry about gun play), there just didn't seem to ever be time to form an informed opinion about it. Julie always felt like she should get her story straight on it, but then, Cinderella and the gang weren't in the house anyway, and there were plenty of other worries to fill the void. Then one day, there Clara was saying that Tinkerbell was her favorite princess and telling you that you were wrong when you said Tinkerbell was a fairy, and then she wanted to be Tiana for Halloween, and then Ariel swam up to be part of her world. (Turns out, they learn more than just the alphabet at school.) Now that princess culture has most definitely invaded, Julie can't seem to think anything more than "Well, what the hell." For Clara, it seems to be not at all about landing a Prince Charming and everything about enjoying a good dress, some fabulous shoes, and some sparkles.

Julie can understand this. She remembers with fondness a dress she first saw in a shop window not long after she'd graduated from college and was working at her first "real" job. It was a hot pink, floor length, silk dupioni number with a backless back. She went in and tried it on and discovered the skirt had just the slightest train. In short, it was fantastic, and Julie felt fantastic in it--like royalty. She bought it, and wore it New Year's Eve 2000. (A tiara and long white gloes would not have been misplaced.)

So now Julie knows how she feels about princess culture, at least when it comes to her princess: she  doesn't think her little girl thinks a princess is anyone other than someone with really terrific clothes (and hair), someone who goes through the world a little more fancy, and Julie is all for terrific clothes and hair, being fancy, and our Birdie feeling terrific.

Christmas Memories

Well, Fans, Santa found us here at the White House, including Grandma Connie and Grandpa Charles, who drove up from Chicago again having done the same about a month ago for Thanksgiving.  They are I-94 Rockstars and if we'd thought of it sooner, we'd have gotten them something for their car to denote them as such.

Santa brought (almost) everything the bambini had written on their respective lists.  Joe's list was Angry Birds Go Pirate Ship game and "Star Wars stuff" with a written-on-the-sealed-envelope last minute addition: a DS.  Clara's list was a princess, a ballerina, and a net (by which she meant a butterfly net though we already have one of these so it was a bit confusing) and a written-on-the-sealed-envelope last minute addition: bracelets.

If we are honest with you, Joe was initially disappointed by the absence of a DS and especially with us when it was revealed that we had told Santa not to bring him a DS because he was being given greater access to the iPad for which Mommy and Daddy had gotten him more games.  Julie broke this news to Joe, and though her heart hurt to see Joe so disappointed, it was also cheered to see him striving for maturity beyond his five years.  Joe was able express his disappointment almost entirely with words.  He told Julie that he really wanted a DS because the iPad didn't have Mario and he hardly ever got to play Mario at school.  Follow-up questions revealed that "school" in this instance is KinderCare where one of Joe's classmates once brought in a DS to show 'n' share (clearly the show 'n' share champion that day) and Joe got to play Mario briefly then.  We didn't ask him to understand that we didn't want to introduce another screen into the house at this time and how that might make screen time management more difficult overall.  Instead, we sought understanding on being grateful for that which has been given us, and especially for the people who are giving us things, which includes their love. (We also showed him how to play Fruit Ninjas.  Current high score: 65.)  He seemed to understand because he played happily all day (and not just slicing fruit on a screen).  But as Julie tucked him in, he did inform her that he was going to ask for a DS again, and then asked her to please not tell Santa not to bring one.  Julie agreed (and didn't say anything about his birthday in July).

Clara for her part shimmered, literally.  The last thing she opened was a complete Tinkerbell costume, replete with twinkling wings and shoes with pom-poms on the toes and heels that light up as one walks (or, as the case may be when your foot doesn't quite reach all the way to the back of the shoe, stomps).  Birdie Brigade, you should have seen her because the pictures don't quite do justice to her decked out in her fairy finery.  She has a new baby doll to take care of, art to create, all kinds of jewelry to make and wear, and a Hello Kitty bike to ride come spring.  Fingers crossed, come then, you'll be seeing a picture here of a little girl rolling down he street in twinkle wings and a helmet, streamers fluttering in the wind.

So we say goodbye to another Christmas, but not the people who gave us so many lovely things, including their love, for which we are grateful at Christmas, and always.  And here, by request from one of them, are more pictures.

You just know the good folks at the post office were mystified if they opened this one.  "Does that say 'net?'  Is that an E?  It's gotta be. . .because what's an NFT?????"

The only town-only address there is.

It's a good thing Joe doesn't know the names of all the reindeer, or he might still be writing the salutation and introduction.

But where's Mrs. Claus and Rudolph here, huh?

Grandpa, do you want some help opening that?  I'm really good at opening presents.

Grandma Connie and and Joe.

A Fruit Ninja and his father.

Mommy, did you get this one over here?  Make sure you get them all.

It fits!

Julie with two of the greatest gifts ever.

First princess costume change.

"Ned?  Who's Ned?"  (Joe handing Ted a gift with a childhood nickname on it.)

Thats right.  The second princess costume change happened when you blinked, Fans.

Tink.

How she glows.

Grandpa, I gotta put a little fairy dust on you.  Trust me.  You're gonna love what it does for you.

A merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

A Big Birdie Naps Like A Little Birdie

Joe still had his reindeer nose come Monday, but Clara had napped hers off. She has been just the tiniest bit under the weather with just the tiniest bit of a cold, but it wasn't so tiny that it wasn't affecting her sleep. When sick, Birdie sleeps fitfully and not very well unless she is nestled against Ted or Julie.  Sunday afternoon, she padded downstairs mewling and sad and climbed up on the couch on top of Julie and slept while Julie read and Ted and Joe made the Swiss Crisp cookies Ted grew up eating at Christmas.  When Clara was little bitty, she often slept on Julie's chest, and continued to do so even when she was more of a would-be colt--all arms and legs.  It'd been some time since Birdie had fallen asleep on top of Julie, and while Julie wouldn't wish Clara sick, but it was a lovely way to spend Sunday afternoon all the same.

Oh!  You don't make cookies in your underwear?