First Christmas: Elephants and Corn Poppers and Maracas, Oh My!

Santa visited both Opa and Grandma's house in Illinois and our new house here in Louisville. Though Isabel did receive some practical gifts (which were more for the parents, really, e.g., eating utensils and special bowls, cups, and plates, socks and pajamas, etc.), there were toys galore!

I had thought that she would be digging the paper and bows more than anything, but she did seem to get into her rocking elephant--yes, elephant, and it is damn cute!--and her riding corn popper. Children of the 70s and 80s will remember the push corn poppers, but this is a combination push and ride that even comes with a storage compartment under the seat for hauling around little treasures such as cat toys and balls of dog hair. Opa and Grandma smiled wryly at the bilingual musical maracas that count to ten, name the rainbow colors, and make a variety of musical instrument sounds when you shake them. They thought that Santa must have been thinking of the parents' joy upon hearing those nonstop for 30 minutes.