Hee Hee Hee, Ho Ho Ho

And lo, holidays are upon us. For some reason I am more seasonally inspired than normal. I'm actually ready for the shopping and the decorating and the baking and the parties and the parades and parades of family. Surprisingly I'm not exhausted by the five holiday parties I've attended in the last seven days, nor am I daunted by the five family Christmas celebrations I'll be attending in the next seven. I have no idea why this is, but I'm certainly enjoying it.

I've been trying to indoctrinate the Little Man in the traditions of winter and Christmas, but with limited success. He likes (read: demands) to have the tree lit, and MUST have a certain drum ornament in his hot little hand NOW if he catches sight of it. Beyond that and playing with my giant 2-foot nutcracker, he could care less about the decorations. Christmas books are shut as soon as they are opened, unread, and pronounced "The End". Santa merited a hug the first time they met, and a screaming fit the second. Sledding is ok, but watching mommy slide down the hill alone and almost land in the drainage ditch is worth doubled-up peals of laughter. (he is JUST like his dad)

Baking is a hit. He likes cookie dough. He likes cookies. He likes banging on all unused (and in-use) bowls. He likes the hand mixer. He likes the stacking and the knocking down of various ingredient bottles, boxes and tubs. And he likes eating cookies. Really. Likes. Eating. Cookies.

His best holiday skill, though, is one that he came up with himself. I don't know if Elmo showed him this, or daycare, or Daddy, or Grandma, or if he just invented it out of his little head. When you say "Hee hee hee" he will reply "Ho, ho, ho", and vice-versa, to infinity. I don't care who taught him, I just care that I can get him to do it over and over and over until I bust out laughing. Ho, ho, ho.