Dad breaks Christmas gifts

***NOTE: We are having a streak of bad luck concerning all things electronic, so there will be no new Boo pictures until further notice due to a broken memory card reader.***

We took more of a Hanukkah approach to gift opening this year. There was a lot to open and we knew Boo's attention span wouldn't make it on Christmas morning.

We almost ruined the fun of opening gifts from the beginning. The Sunday before Christmas, Boo opened her first gift. It happened to be the traditional Hall family dark chocolate orange. Boo was pleased to have a nice orange ball to hold, and was horrified when J took it and SMACKED it on the table (which is what you are supposed to do to break it into slices). She sobbed that Daddy had broken her present, and refused to open anything else, or even take the orange back.

I thought she had gotten over her trauma by the next day when I found her sitting under the table, munching away at the chocolate orange. But when it came time to open another gift that night, she held it close to her and said (several times, to be sure the message was clear), "Daddy, no bang, no bang." Every few minutes she would remind him that he was not to slam her gifts on the table ever again.

A few weeks ago, out of the blue, Boo told me she wanted a bike for Christmas. Every time I asked her what she wanted for Christmas, the answer was the same, "Bike for Christmas." We debated between a trike and a little bike (with training wheels), and finally went with the little bike when we found a great deal on craigslist. She was all smiles when we wheeled it out, but wouldn't go near it. She finally decided it would be okay for her dog to ride it while J pushed it. Then she felt up to pushing the bike around with the dog on it. It took a couple of days before she was ready to get on, but has been in love with it ever since.

The collection of craft supplies I worked so hard to acquire was worth it. She is happiest when she is crouched over her table working on an art project.