More Tradition, Habits & Rituals (OCD?)

December 17, 2008
Another Christmas tradition we have is everything Polar Express. We watch the movie and at the end Mikey spots a new box under the tree. He opens it to find a big silver bell from Santa's reindeer. He takes it gingerly in his hands, brings it slowly to his ear, closes his eyes and gives it a light shake while reciting, "I believe." The relieved smile is priceless. Last year we rode the Polar Express train in old town where dancers served hot chocolate and the hobo and santa visited the passengers. There was an extra bonus when we attended a NICU charity showing of The Polar Express at IMAX. Mikey was a featured success story in the preshow clips. He was in disbelief when he saw himself on the big screen.
This year, we did the movie/bell thing and, once again, the bell rang because he still believes. The bonus this year was replacing his mock Polar Express train (actually a plastic Santa Express train seen in yesterday's post) with a real die-cast Polar Express train. Godzilla Jaden damaged his other train by derailing it and stomping on the tracks (just imagine the screaming going on in THIS house over the last couple of days) so we drove to the downtown plaza last night and bought the real deal.

Speaking of traditions, habits & rituals, Jaden will pick up on them just fine. She already has a few of her own. For example every morning she dances to the music from this little farmhouse magnet. Please excuse Mikey's special effects in the background.

Non-Christmas related but still within the realm of Tradition, I've been going through our Taiwan/Japan footage and thought you all might enjoy these. While visiting family in Japan we attended a centuries old festival near where my dad grew up. In the first clip, Ryan (my brother in the green striped shirt), Kayla (my 5 year old niece in the red kimono), Mikey (in the blue kimono) and me holding Jaden (we're both wearing kimonos, too), are doing a traditional dance. Jaden had been with us for about 2 weeks by this time.

This second clip shows how much Mikey enjoyed these festivals (we attended 3). Here he is dancing with his cousin, Kayla (to his right). He was definitely a popular one in Japan constantly approached by people who wanted to talk to him or take his picture. Enjoy!