We were really worried, given their shared tendencies, that Charly would love the Christmas tree like Elliot. While Elliot has been terrible with the tree this year (leaping off presents, climbing up the inside of the tree and shaking it, and pulling ornaments off with her teeth) Charly has been pretty timid. She'll swipe at the lower branches occasionally and grab for an ornament here and there, but her favorite are the presents under the tree. She loves presents. The paper. The bows. The sound they make when she bangs on them. She loves everything about them. Great . . .
Another thing Charly loves about Christmas is Santa! A few weekends ago we had such good luck with Santa in Allison, we thought we'd call it quits. But on Saturday Ashley earned her masters degree at UNI and while waiting for the family for lunch at Bourbon Street on Main Street in Cedar Falls, we noticed that Santa's Workshop at the end of the block looked awfully lonely. We just had to test our luck! A pretty elf greeted us at the door to Santa's shop and Charly lit up as soon as she saw the big guy in red. She didn't get to tell him what she wanted (we've got that covered) but her reaction to him twice now, gave us hope that next year she'll love him just the same!
Saturday night, we celebrated our first official family Christmas of the season, as my Henrichs cousins gathered with Grandma Gail in Allison. Charly had to buy her first Christmas present (for her second cousin Maddie) and she even received her first Christmas present (from her second cousin Jacob). Grandma Gail gave her a book (at 88 years old she still insists on getting her 22 great-grandkids a Christmas gift), which Charly loved, and we learned some amazing things about my Grandma while playing a trivia game about her life. For instance, she was a member of one of the 1st high school cheerleading teams in the state! She's a pretty incredible woman and has lived quite a life so far!
Sunday morning, we decided to skip the Panthers' basketball game and catch up on things around the house. We even took Charly out to play in the snow, although she didn't really know what to think of it. She was pretty indifferent about it actually. She didn't cry. She didn't smile. Her snow suit was something new to her, the snow made it very bright to see for her, and she only liked sitting in the snow if Kelli was with her. She'll learn to love it.
It was nice to relax after such a busy Saturday. Charly helped cheer on Tom Brady later in her New England cheerleading outfit. I reached the championship game of our fantasy football league (much to Taylor and Beau's chagrin). And Kelli enjoyed a carefree winter day with her baby girl before going to work on Monday.
Less than a week from now, on the same night Charly will turn 10 months, Santa will be making his first stop ever at the Henrichs household! We don't have a chimney, so we'll leave the door unlocked and I'll make sure to have the driveway snow-blowed for the big guy.
Less than a week from now, on the same night Charly will turn 10 months, Santa will be making his first stop ever at the Henrichs household! We don't have a chimney, so we'll leave the door unlocked and I'll make sure to have the driveway snow-blowed for the big guy.
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