I just had to post this photo of two of my favorite people - Stephanie and Ethan. I took this picture and I think it's hilarious. Ethan and Stephanie actually have a lot in common - they're both music lovers with exhaustive collections, they both have social anxiety, and they both have great senses of humor, which is one of the reasons I love both their company. 

This modest house in the Taftville section of Norwich is where my life began, somewhere between July 31st and August 1st 1974.  

I'm working on a Sweetwater album for my Scraptalk assignment this month and the theme is My Hometown. I went to Norwich on Tuesday and took a bunch of photos for it and now I'm feeling all nostalgic. This beautiful building is the City Hall! 

Questions from Stephanie's Blog....

Hot Chocolate or Egg Nog? Hot Chocolate. Chocolate always gets preference.

Does Santa wrap the presents or just set them under the tree? Santa only fills stockings in our house.

Colored or white lights on the tree/house? White outside, colored inside.

Do you hang mistletoe? Of course - the more smooches the better.

When do you decorate? Usually not at least until 12/15, and we keep decorating until 12/24. 8-)

What is your favorite holiday dish? Turkey!

Favorite Holiday memory as a child? When both sides of my family all went to my Aunt Beulah's house for Christmas. I was really lucky to have grandmothers who were friends - I got to have my whole family together for most holidays.

Favorite Holiday memory as an adult? Esme realizing that she should be excited that Christmas is coming!

How and when did you learn the truth about Santa? First grade, when a classmate told me there was no Santa. I wasn't shocked though.

Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve? Esme opens gifts from her Nonna on Christmas Eve, but other than that, no.

What kind of cookies do you set out for Santa on Christmas Eve? This year, Alfajores, Chai Shortbreads, Two Bit Wonders, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Sugar Kisses, White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal, Cafe Latte Bars, Eggnog cookies, Chocolate Spritz cookies, Marmalade Morsels, and Granola Butterscotch.

Snow! Love it or hate it? When Esme sees it and her face lights up, I love it. The rest of the time I'm just tired of it.

Can you ice skate? I've never tried.

.Do you remember your favorite gift? My favorite doll - My Friend Jenny.

What is the most important thing about the holidays for you? Ethan & Esme

What’s your favorite holiday dessert? Chocolate Dream pie.

What’s your favorite holiday tradition? watching It's a Wonderful Life with Ethan

What type of tree? Artificial all the way.

Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Giving.

What is your favorite Christmas Carol? Go Tell it on the Mountain

Candy Canes-- great for decorating and dipping in cocoa.

This Santa is on my nice list! Esme had an absolutely miserable Santa experience on Saturday, and I was worried she wouldn't want any part of him anymore. But Tuesday Donna and I took her up to Yankee Candle Factory, where the REAL Santa visits with boys and girls. This man is wonderful. He took the time to really pay attention to her and talk about her favorite subject - Elmo. There's a photo of her with him on our family blog.

I love Freecycle! I am cleaning house and getting rid of lots of stuff. Last year I bought Esme a toy Boobah that sings and dances and I have grown to really despise the thing. We don't even watch Boobahs, but our neighbor had one that she really liked. I am so glad it is going to a good home and out of mine! Also she received some Peek A Blocks for her first Christmas that she got very little play value out of, and those are also going to a good home. The best thing is that all I have to do is put them out on my porch and they magically disappear! Hooray!
I'm getting rid of some old dishes, a crib mattress, some clothes she's outgrown, and more.

Plus, I can ask for things whenever I want. Someone gave me some curtains, I've gotten some office clips, an easel, etc. If you haven't tried Freecycle check it out at www.freecycle.org - it's a wonderful system!

It is wonderful to enjoy the holiday season with a two year old! Today on our way to pick Ethan up at work, Esme and I saw several houses decorated with Christmas lights. Esme was excited by EVERY strand of lights, no matter how small. She was wowed every house we saw, and kept shouting, "Let's see more!"

We went to Kohl's this year and found some great buys. I have been searching everywhere for a boy Cabbage Patch Kid for Dylan and they are very hard to find! Toys R Us had all girls, Target had all girls, and Kohls had all girls except for ONE boy! Dylan James will be Daddy to Daniel Calvin. And he was even on sale. A couple weeks ago I'd told Esme that she could pick out a toy to buy for a little girl who might not get many toys this Christmas, and today she found what she considered the perfect one. It was a lavendar plush My Little Pony (also on sale whoo hoo) and we're going to donate it to Toys for Tots this weekend.

Today we started the Advent calendar Edwina and Wolfgang got Esme. She really loves it because it has a baby on it, so even though she's only 2, it's been a good opportunity for my to talk to her about Jesus being a baby. It's a cute, but not too cute, manger scene. Behind every door is a one line of the story. Tonight before she goes to bed she'll get to tear the first link off her Christmas chain.

Christmas with a child is much different than Christmas as just a couple. The fun things we want to do are all oriented around Esme, and the gifts were are most excited to give usually have parts designed not to be choking hazards. This year she speaks well enough to give us her interpretations on everything, and to make requests, and to express her delight.

I asked her what she was going to tell Santa she would like for Christmas and she thought about it for a really long time and then answered seriously, "A toy." She had to think really seriously again when I asked her what kind of toy she wanted, but of course the answer was, "Elmo!"