back seat conversations...

As much of my time is spent shuttling girls from one event to another, I spend many hours perched in the front seat of our minivan.  What I relish while in this front position is listening to the conversations that go on in the back of the vehicle.  Todays conversation between Margo and Mekdes was delightful and I wanted to share it with you.  It went something like this....
Margo:  Look how loose my tooth is.  Pretty soon the tooth fairy will come.
Mekdes immediately started trying to wiggle her tooth and then stops and asks:  What is a tooth fairy?
Margo:   The tooth fairy takes your teeth and then leaves you money under your pillow.
Mekdes immediately covers her mouth and shouts out:  I don't want the fairy to take my teeth!  I don't want money!  And I don't want them in my room!
Ahh, the nuances of cultural characters!  We will have to cover the tooth fairy with more detail when the time comes!  For now, we have Santa to contend with and the time had come to meet with the toy maker from the North Pole to discuss what we would like him to bring us for Christmas.   The excitement level was high for both Margo and Mekdes and they were squealing with delight as we drove to see Santa.  While waiting in line to see the big man, decisions were being made and changed....then made and changed regarding what they were were going to ask for.  This was obviously a crucial decision and you don't want to blow it by being unprepared when your moment comes!  As we finally approached the jolly fellow in the big, red suit their minds were set and they marched up to declare their wishes.  As you will see in the videos, the Smurf movie and purple boots are what we asked Santa for.  Let's hope he remembers...

There is a funny side note to this story.  As we were standing in line and the girls were trying to decide what to ask for, there was a man with two young girls who walked up behind us.  He was a little rough and clearly felt as if he had drawn the short straw when it came to bringing his girls to see Santa.  His irritability stood out like a sore thumb in a line of people glowing with the holiday spirit!  Shortly after he and his girls arrived in line he received a phone call that decidedly added to his "mood".  Within seconds the expletives were flying out of his mouth and people were literally covering their children's ears!  One father started to sing/shout "up on the housetop reindeer's paw...".  It was all I could do not to break out into hysterical laughter at being caught in this absurd dichotomy that truly warranted a spot in the Saturday Night Live holiday skit line-up!  Standing between the family who was  wearing matching outfits for their Christmas card  photo op with Santa and the man who had a vocabulary that would make a truck driver blush made for a very memorable first visit with the giant elf!

a norman rockwell thanksgiving....

If there is one time of year I look forward to the most, it is Thanksgiving.  Every year, we pack up our crew (5 girls, a dog, 2 adults, 7 suitcases and activity bags)  in the minivan and head to Ohio for a few days of Thanksgiving bliss.  My parents have a small farm in Ohio with all the bells and whistles that make is a fabulous destination for our entire family.  The tractor, the gator, chickens, turkeys, a cabin, bon fires, target practice, the work shop....the list goes on and on.  This was Mekdes' first Thanksgiving at the Davis farm and she was in heaven.  As she stated while we were on our hayride, "I really like it here!".  As do we all!  From digging up the potato harvest to making reindeer there were many first for Mekdes this year.  Here are some pics from our delightful Thanksgiving holiday.

Anna learns to drive the tractor this year....soon, a car...yikes!

our work shop project

we take our target competition very seriously!

all the cousins!

our annual hayride had the added element of a treasure hunt this year--great fun!

mmmmmm.....mama's pie dough!

the dreaded question...

This holiday season has been a real treat for me watching Mekdes absorb all of our cultural rituals and stories that surround the Christmas holiday.  We have watched Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer with absolute awe and joy.  She is recognizing holiday music and lights up when she hears her favorites.  What has been so fascinating is to see how steeped in tradition and lore we all are since birth and how that effects our beliefs.  While Margo has no problem with the understanding of Santa, his job responsibilities on Christmas Eve and his sled being pulled by reindeer that fly, Mekdes continually asks.."So how does the sled fly?"  "What do you mean the reindeer are magical?"  "How does he see everyone in one night?"   We breathe these facts in from the moment we enter this world and are taught all the glorious stories that surround this miraculous event.  To see this child try to wrap her brain around our stories and beliefs has been pure joy for all of us!  

The other day we were on the front porch putting up the greenery and Mekdes declares, "This is going to make Santa so happy!".  I told her that he loves to see everyone in the holiday spirit.  She paused for a moment and asked, "What color is Santa?".  I froze!  I have prepared myself for this type of question for years....I taught in the inner city....I have a degree in African American Studies....I have a binder full of articles on how to respond to your  child when they have questions regarding color.....ARGH!!!!  Why is my mind drawing a blank?!  How do you see him in your heart?  I think he is the color of love.  What do I do?  What do I do?  And then Mekdes interrupted the silence.  "Oh, ya.", she said.  "He is red and white.".  YES!  YES!  I joyfully concurred!  He IS red and white!  I sure do love these moments of levity.  I truly feel they are reminders from our higher power telling us to relax and enjoy the moment. 

Happy Holidays, everyone!

a new hair do