Putting up the Nativity scene

Monday night we put up the Christmas tree and one box of ornaments.  After the tree was up we just sat there in the dark and looked at it.  There was one box of ornaments that wasn't in the attic so that was on the tree.  It included my absolute favorites.
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Tuesday night we put up the manger.  That way we didn't have to send Scotland to the attic.  That was lots of fun.  She decided she wanted to take them out the boxes.  I put the boxes on the credenza.   Then she decorated.  She asked where to put the angels so they wouldn't be seen.  I was confused,  Then she said, "You can't see angels".   I explained that angels can be seen if they want to be seen.  I showed her how Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the barn animals had to be inside.  But the rest could be wherever she wanted them.  I had to put the hanging angel up.  Then she arranged the other figurines how she wanted them.  I have a basket with stuff in it.  She put the sheep eating the stuff.  The goat was ahead of the sheep.

I told her she could play with the figurines as long as they stayed on the credenza.  She was confused about how she could play with them.  To demonstrate I picked up one on the outer edge, and had it ask the one in front "Have you been able to catch sight of baby Jesus yet?"   The answer was, "Not yet, it is a real crowd scene here."   Tatiana thought that was pretty funny.

I am working from home today.  I was inside getting lunch when Tatiana and JJ came in to play.  Tatiana told JJ that they could play with the nativity set.   They started out playing, and that quickly devolved into them playing animals.  They are playing in the backyard now.

First Camping Trip

Tatiana had her first camping trip last weekend.  It was lots of fun.  I took off Friday afternoon so we could setup while it was light, and I could pack without hurrying.  I was also worried some of our equipment wouldn't work, so I wanted time to run to Walmart.  Scotland had done most of the packing already.  All I needed to do was to pack what I needed.  So, we left at 1 pm, a half hour earlier than Scotland had thought we would.  We had a nice drive and we stopped in Commerce at an Italian place called Luigi's.  The food was really excellent.  Tatiana thought it was funny that the decorations included a giant decorative spoon and fork.  The spoon was near our booth.  As we were leaving Tatiana said she wanted a closer look at the Fork.  Scotland thought she said Fort, so he went down with her and started to talk about the painting of an Italian ruin.  But, no, she wanted to look at the fork.

When we got to the campgrounds they said that we could put our tent up anyplace so Scotland picked a really really nice spot.  Tracy tried to point out some places in the middle of everyone.  Scotland wanted a site a little farther away from everyone.  I am glad.  When I went to the restroom in the middle of the night, I heard LOTS of giggling.   It was quiet where we were.  We had a really pretty view of the lake.  We were about 100 feet away from the nearest shelter which was how far away we could be and let Scotland use his sleep machine.   Looking at the view, it reminded me of the first location for the trailer.  The remote place.    We were setting up and an older girl named Tabitha asked if Tatiana could play.   She is a nice girl.  They ran off.  Then I saw that Tabitha was carrying Tatiana piggy-back.  Other girls often like to carry her around.

That was mostly how the camping was.  Tatiana played played played.  Saturday morning the kids went on a hike with some adults.  They'd set up a Treasure Trove, which was enough lollipops for all the kids.  Saturday morning Scotland taught the kids Orienteering.  That is with a compass where you just spell out the degrees.  I don't quite understand.  I was sleeping.

She was sad when it was time to go.  But, there wasn't anyone to play with since everyone else was leaving too.  These camping trips are probably the closest Tatiana can get to my Leach Lake experience.  So, it made me happy to see her run around and have fun.

Tooth Fairy

The tooth fairy came last night.  I should probably back up a bit.  Tatiana went to the kid's dentist yesterday to have the extra tooth and the front tooth that it was crowding out pulled.  They couldn't just take the extra tooth because there are important nerves in that middle area.  So they took the front tooth and then took out the extra one from the same hole.

The dentist had lots of bells and whistles.  Tatiana wore noise cancelling headsets and she had a screen over her head she could watch.  She picked a movie about Butterfly Barbies.  Tatiana didn't cry or fuss once.  What she remembers is that she watched the entire movie about Butterfly Barbies.

She brought her two teeth home in a tiny pink plastic treasure chest.  We asked if she wanted to leave both teeth or just one last night.  She wanted to leave one last night and one tonight.  The tooth was put in an envelope and she sealed it. Then it was clipped to the lamp.  We told her that was because the bed was filled with pillows and stuffies and blankets, so the tooth fairy wouldn't be able to find the tooth.  She fell asleep with me, then Scotland swapped out the tooth envelope with one with 5 quarters, and he'd added a little red mark where supposedly the tooth had been.

This morning I was in bed and I heard our bedroom door close.  Then I heard scampering feet.  She scampered a lot.  I'd actually forgotten about the tooth fairy.  When Tatiana heard me get up she came in all excited and told me the tooth fairy came.  It was like Christmas morning to her.  She showed me her envelope with the quarters.

I had to get dressed for work and she wanted to climb into my spot in bed.  I gave them both a hug and kiss.  I was climbing in the car when she was at the front door wanting another hug.