Rock on, Gainesville!

We've had another great jam session, and for just such an occasion, Madison needed to bring out the guitar - and oh yes: the hat. It was somewhat spontaneous, but occasionally Madison will signal to us when she wants to hear some music from the computer. Daddy happily obliges. The signature song of the summer was a version of "Cuban Pete," by Jim Carrey (from "The Mask").But this time around, we went "Fore Chords and Several Years Ago," from Huey Lewis and the News. It was quite an energetic jam session in the kitchen: Mommy and Daddy danced and Madison played guitar. Madison started to learn the twist a little tonight, as Mommy showed her how to do the moves. It started with a wiggle, and ended with a giggle!

Song after song played, and Madison nearly outlasted Mommy and Daddy - charged up and ready for more music after each song ended.

It was a blast, but we weren't through yet: Madison brought out a baton and started swirling it for us. You read that right: Mommy has been teaching Madison how to twirl a baton! She's getting pretty good at it too! For the most part, she had such a determined expression as she spun the baton through her fingers - but this picture here shows her a little more animated.

MADISON'S BOOK CLUB

Tonight before bed, we read "The Polar Express" for the first time, amongst several other books. Mommy had pulled out several that featured snow or Christmas as their theme. The one she enjoyed most though would have to be The Polar Express. For one, it featured a train. She knows how to say "train" and likes to see them too. The other thing she saw at the end of the book was Santa, which was an even better reaction! This Monday, we'll go see Santa again at the mall. Last year, it was so perfect: we thought we'd take her by a seated Santa at the Mall of Georgia - just to see what her reaction was. You never know with a two-year old: maybe she'd freak out, or maybe she wouldn't even care. Not Madison: no, she ran right up to Santa and jumped in his lap! It's a good thing there was no line! We had no idea the reaction would be so good - in fact, we didn't have her dressed in anything festive at all. But we thought her facial reaction was so perfect that we just went with it! Take a look:

Tonight, Mommy and Daddy are packing the stockings Madison helped stuff a few months ago. We'll send them up to New York to children who don't get as much for Christmas. Madison worked hard on these, and it'll be neat to see her efforts to help others this time of year.
As we stuff stockings, we're watching the latest version of "Miracle on 34th Street."

Well, we've got to start watching Christmas movies some time!