Sami the Performer (not so much!)

Sami had her Christmas Program at school today. I call it a "Christmas Program" versus a "Holiday Program" or a "Winter Program" because she goes to daycare in a church and in their infinite wisdom decided to have a program on Sunday. That way they got all of us non-church going sinners to at least one Advent service.

After sitting through countless songs (performed by the "Worship Leaders" a group that can only be identified as a wanna be christian rock band, and a pastor who definitely can't sing or play the guitar) and the passing of the Plate (which Matt seemed not exactly confused but he didn't really get it, Beth Torah doesn't do that) and Sermon on how Shepherd's smell like crap (literally) and that we are all Shepherds blah blah blah, does anyone really pay attention to these things (that goes for all sermons no matter the religion.) He did try to make some what can only be called misinformed Jewish references, knowing we were there. The School also invited Marcia in last week to give the kids a lesson on Hanukkah!

Finally an hour after we got there the big event. Sam was dressed in her new Holiday attire, was well rehearsed from the car ride and she paraded in with all the other kids, fingers in her mouth, her little cheeks rosy, and wet with tears. She may belt out tunes at home, dance like it is her job (at home), you throw one person she is not around almost daily, and that is out the window. Our little diva becomes an emotional mess. Her Teacher even tried to help her along to no avail. She wasn't digging the singing, the dancing, or the other kids around her. Her little boyfriend Cole stole the show though shouting out that he had the "S" for Christmas!

She finally calmed down enough at the end to go with Matt's dad to get chicken and had a ball playing with Mikaela and opening Hanukkah presents at Aaron and Miriam's house. She sang the whole way to the party and was a different kid. Once again, throw someone new into the mix and it is a bad deal!

So far for Hanukkah she has gotten a princess head that you do the hair, a Zoe puzzle, and then today an Elmo doll, towels for her new bathroom, sheets, a phone, a magna doodle, and I am sure more and more that I can't recall. Five nights of Hanukkah left then 2 days of Christmas, all I can say is December 26 is going to be a rough day with no presents!

Scaring the Poop out of Sam (literally)

Since Christmas is coming we are definitely using the Santa Behavior Modification technique. Any undesirable behavior is followed with a "I'm calling Santa." This technique truly worked with the many preschoolers I have taught over the years. It can backfire though, here's how:

Matt was keeping Sam entertained after a breathing treatment. Albuterol really sends a kid into a tail spin! Since she is potty trained she said she needed to go poop. After several rounds of
MATT: Sam are you done yet
SAM: NO!
and a couple of
MATT: Hurry up and finish
SAM: It not workin'
Matt finally hit the breaking point.
MATT: Are you REALLY pooping?
SAM: Yes
MATT: If you are lying SANTA IS NOT COMING
Well, about 10 minutes after the final exchange Sam was still on the potty. Matt, having figured out that Sam took the conversation as Santa is not coming unless she poops, called in reinforcements (ME). I had to talk my 2 year old off the proverbial ledge! She was convinced and it took a few minutes to get her to understand that if she did not poop Santa would still come, but when she tells a lie Santa doesn't come. She quickly got down and apologized to her Daddy.
We have now decided that Santa is a good tool, but, maybe not when it comes to potty time.

She did get to see Santa last night and was petrified! Once he left she wanted to see him again and was mad that he wasn't there.

Sunday, we were talking about Santa before the party and she started naming people who Santa was coming to see. She named all the cousins on my side, then it hit, the big one I had been trying to avoid, MIKAELA! How do you explain to a 2 year old why her jewish cousin doesn't get presents from Santa? I couldn't say because Mikaela is Jewish, and knew Mikaela hadn't been so bad that it would justify no Santa. Finally I came up with "Well, her mommy and daddy don't believe in Santa, so he doesn't go to their house." Then she just said "okay, and Santa comes to see Sami, and Cole, and Christen, and ......" naming all of her school friends. Now we just have to keep this in mind for next year.

Some of Sami's favorite things

After going to see GiGi and PaPa Friday night (to decorate their Christmas Tree, which never actually happened) Sam had a great time spending the night at their house with Emma, Joey, and Jake. She is definately PaPa's girl and really didn't care to talk to anyone else until he got there. They even had a camp out in the family room, just the two of them. Since Christy's three all flock to Grandma/GiGi I think PaPa loves being the preferred grandparent over there! Watch out Grandma, you have stiff competition.

On Saturday we had Emma and Joey come over to play (for the second weekend in a row for Emma!) Joey was as usual the most helpful kid in the world letting me unpack our bedroom, which I am finally done with. After they went home Sam and I went to the store where people oohed and ahhed over the sleeping toddler in the shopping cart!

After dinner we watched the movie CARS. Sam made sure to tell us how much she "Lubed" having just the three of us watching a movie. She fell asleep during the movie and now wants to watch it again.

Everyone is adjusting to the move. Daphne is having the hardest time right now, having been relocated to the basement. I am not sure if she just misses being the boss of the house or hates her new roommate Patches, a 12 year old schizu who is GRUMPY! and LAZY! Kind of like Malcolm used to be but more annoying.

Tonight we have my work Christmas Party. The whole family is invited and Sam is very excited to see SANTA as well as my friends kids that she has gotten to know over the last year.

We still have not done hardly any shopping for the holidays, I think we have 2 things for Sam for Hanukkah and that is all! Matt is going on Friday to try to find other stuff.

Sam is excited for what she calls "Kaela's Party" on Friday, which is actually the Bris of our new Nephew Johnathan Marcus. She wants to see him but hasn't been able to due to a runny nose and an over protective aunt (me).

We too have a blog page

Things have been very crazy since the week before Thanksgiving. Since then we have now moved to Raymore, Mo. It's been a ajdustment for everybody, but we are getting used to the looong drive to work now. Samantha has been wonderful during all of this, and to reward her, gramdma and zadie bought her a "Dora" comforter and curtain/screen that hangs from the celing above her bed. She LOVES it, she ran around the house last name screaming "it bootiful, i lub it". Once we get some pictures i will post it. That's all for now, once I figure out this blog thing we will do more post and add pictures.