Enjoying Her Presents

I read other blogs where parents discuss how kind, thoughtful, warm-hearted and generous their four year olds.

This is not that kind of post.

Angie is a good, kind and loving little kid who daily gives us lots of hugs and kisses and says, "I love you," even when she isn't trying to hide the fact that she has been doing something she shouldn't have.

But the girl likes her things. It's partly because we were forced to throw out many of her toys in our post fire existence and she is in a rebuilding the stash process. But it is also that she is four years old and loves to play.

I don't know if family felt bad that she has lost a lot of things, because she certainly received what seemed like a lot this Holiday Season. Here is a highlight of her current favorites:

The Dollhouse from Chas's family. It's cool. It swivels. It came with furniture and dolls (only females though). I think she especially likes that the toilet has a lid. The doll with the long red hair has been named Eve. My Dad added a small grill set complete with apron, mitt and shish-ke-bobs made out of wood and felt. Too cute. I plan to add a baby to the set so that she gets used to the idea of a baby in the house. I don't know where we will put the nursery, but that is really just a case of play imitating life.

The Dora Bed and Dora doll from Grandma Pat and Grandpa Don. Angie puts her new Dora doll to bed every night and tucks the covers around her. Dora is often a guest at our tea parties (see below).

The Pirate Ship from Grandpa Bill. She opened it up and squealed, "Ooooh a pirate ship! I love it!" That's my girl. It has two sails, two rope ladders, an anchor that retracts, a cannon, three pirates a treasure map, and a treasure chest. There is much piracy in our house right now. And she intuitively grasped the concept of keelhauling. I have no idea, however, what that poor pirate did to deserve it.

The noisy thing from Uncle Scott. She throws it, it makes obnoxious noises or plays music. She is quite fond of it. We parents are not.

Hi Ho Cherry O game from Mommy and Daddy. She loves it. We all make appropriate cheering or sad noises. There is much giggling. We have enjoyed several rounds of the game since we returned from Zanesville on Tuesday.

The Tea Set from Aunt Leigh. I had intended to get her a tea set for Christmas since it was one of the casualties of the fire. I ran out of time, but Leigh came through. With the tea set and the play food from Uncle Jay and Aunt Brandi, we have had many tea parties and picnics since returning home. Dora is there as is Lady the train from Uncle Jay and Aunt Brandi.

She has kept us very busy with her toys.