Some ham and cheese with your Christmas tree

I asked for cheese, and that's what I got.

With her day care closed for renovations, we decided to head back to Kidspace for some extra play time. There were only a handful of other kids there, so Amie made some friends and had the run of the place. She introduced herself to them all as Princess Peach, which she says is her name now. She can get quite upset at times if you call her Amie and insists that she be called her proper, new name. She also wants me to be called Mario, though I'm not quite so on board with that.

This is the "good twin" face...imagine what the evil one is like!

She ended up brown to the knees and elbows thanks to the sand and bark dust.

Later that afternoon she was riding her bike under the house while I did the washing when she suddenly ran out of energy and needed to have a little rest before she could play again. It was a busy, hot day, so I'm not surprised she needed to recharge.

She's not one to shy away from the camera, given that as we were walking to school she stopped and insisted I take her picture.

She's been getting right into playing with her felt people again lately, and has been busy making her "paintings", as she calls them. She's had these sets for a while now, but they've come back to the top of the play list.

I asked why that fireman didn't have pants, and she said he never had any. Not sure how he passes the safety protocols this way, but she's sure he's fine. I really hope that's a hose he's using on the fires.

With December rolling around (far too quickly, in my opinion), it was time to put the tree up again.

This year she was actually quite helpful, and not in the way that requires quotation marks. She helped put the branches in, put the lights and tinsel around the tree, before hanging up some of the decorations. The highlight for her was putting the star on top, something she insisted was her job. It also seems she's part cat, as she likes to stand in front of the tree and bat at the ornaments. 

She insisted we take silly photos, while I wanted nice. We had to compromise.

Amie: I have the cutest love.

I can't argue with that :)

She's entranced by the tree, and will happily sit there watching it, especially once the lights are on. As I watch Amie watching the tree, looking at the lights and decorations, it reminds me that we should look at the world through the eyes of a child more often. She's enthralled by the tree and can't stop telling me how adorable and beautiful it is. It may not be anything you'd see in a fancy store's window, it may not be perfectly balanced, it may be a bit old, but to her, it's beautiful and magical. She doesn't see the flaws, just the beauty.

We don't need to strive for perfection to achieve beauty, and it's nice to have these moments to remind us of that.

The morning after we put the tree up, I was woken up by a very sad child who was wanting to know where her presents were. Specifically, the snorkel she desperately wants (seriously, it's the ONLY thing she's asked for). Once I realised what she was on about, I had to remind her she's got a few more weeks to wait before Santa gets here. Patience is not strong in this one.

Amie: That was delicious! (we had French toast for breakfast)
Me: I bet you are too. Can I have a little nibble? Just an ear? (we're always threatening to eat each other)
Amie: NO.
Me: Just a little bit?
Amie: NO. People are BISGUSTING. I would be BISGUSTING to eat. Oh, pretty purple heart.

She went from being bisgusted by my request to admiring the Christmas ornaments in no time.

Amie: I love unicorns.

Me: I do too. I love you more, though.

Amie: I love you more, too. And unicorns.

Me: Do you love them more than you love me?
Amie: No, I love you the most. And them too.

Me: So they're the mythical creature you love the most?

Amie: You're not a creature, you're a playdy!

I'm really not sure what happened in this conversation. I think she loves me more than unicorns, but I'm not sure. We all know I'm no lady, but I am apparently a playdy!

She's discovered red cordial and the side effect of the coloured moustache.