Tuesday, December 25, 2001
It's been a magical Xmas for Vanessa. Just over a month ago, we asked Vanessa what she was going to ask Santa for Xmas. She told us that she was going to ask for a "princess costume, a princess hat and a magic wand". So her Grandmother Jean got busy, creating a flowing princess costume and a pointed princess hat, both from scratch, and Erika tracked down a wand. Yesterday we visited Jean's place, and at one point in the evening we told Vanessa to head upstairs as Santa was going to make a special trip, and Santa only visits when children can't see him. So up she went. We rang the doorbell, said a few "ho-ho-hos" and Jean brought out the special presents she had made. Then we called down Vanessa and her eyes lit up the moment she came downstairs and saw the boxes which hadn't been there just a few moments ago. She immediately modeled the costumes, much to everybody's delight. Little Annie at just 5 months was fascinated by all of the goings on, and especially liked all of the coloured papers and bright baubles. She didn't know what all of the hub-bub was about, but she seemed to enjoy herself, grabbing at anything that came within her reach.
This morning, Vanessa came down with her mother and saw the piece d'resistance that her mother and I had put together a couple of evenings before: a three story dollhouse complete with with a doll family and furniture, a gift from her Grandfather Josef. Mouth agape she said "wow" and immediately went over to it and started playing. This gift in a way is something of a wish fulfillment for her mother, as Erika had always wanted a house like this when she was a girl, but never had one. Mother and daughter both played with the house for quite some time this morning (and Vanessa returned to it repeatedly during the day -- as I was putting her to bed tonight she asked whether or not she could still play with it. ;-)
As for Erika, her main gift was a watch from her father, and I got a new digital camera, to replace the one which "got dropped too much" as Erika says.
Unfortunately Annie has come down with the stomach flu, which floored me for part of yesterday, and Vanessa before me.
Mother is still in the hospital, I talked to her on the phone for a good long time earlier this evening, and told her about the upcoming visit we have planned, where we hope to take her home for the afternoon. I can't help but wonder if this is the last time she will be in her own home, as it is highly likely she will be placed in a nursing home afterwards.
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