We have been talking a lot about Christmas lately at our house. Marin is much more into it this year than last. Our tree is up (thanks to a fun day with the Arens cousins), other decorations placed, presents wrapped and the holy family out and about. Marin calls them the "whole family." Although they are not "toys", they sleep on Marin's dresser every night and come back downstairs in the morning. We always have to be able to "see'em".

We also have been trying to work with Marin to sit in shopping carts better. She is always wanting to walk and will stand up in the cart even when she is strapped in. We know that it will be next to impossible to go out by ourselves with Marin and the baby and decided we needed to work on it with the help of Santa.

Mommy: Marin, what do you want Santa to bring you? (Side note: Marin saw the Super Babies and Dora Castle at the store and told us she wanted them and I told her she needed to let Santa know, and I told her if she would practice sitting in the cart, Santa would probably bring her what she wanted. My parental skills were not working so I resorted to bribery.)

Marin: Super Babies...Castle.
(Marin starts standing up in the cart.)

Mommy: Marin, what are you supposed to be practicing for Santa?

Marin: Sit in cart. (She sits back down)

She has been better in carts, but she no longer thinks Santa says "Ho, Ho, Ho". According to Marin, he says "SIT IN CART."

On the same note, my work has a kid Christmas party every year. Santa is at the party. When he made his grand entrance all the kids were mobbing around him and Marin could not get to him (not from the lack of trying). She looks at Ed, looks back at Santa, and frantically says "Talk". She then starts shouting across the room to Santa "SUPER BABIES!!! CASTLE!!!." She had this look of gratification on her face after she did this, like, "He finally knows what I want."