Happy Birthday Boudie

Christmas excitement is mounting in our house, which is odd as we don't celebrate it in any way at all, and in fact I never bring the subject up myself. The recent snowfall brought a joyful shout of "look, christmas" when they got up and looked out the window yesterday morning. When we see the xmas decorations in shops or snow-sprayed windows they say "look, christmas!"

They get their understanding of christmas mostly from the tv, so of course they know that christmas is all about decorated trees and snow and presents and a fat man in a red suit. TV viewing is strictly limited at the moment thanks be to God, what with the shocking amount and intensity of toy adverts that leave you reeling and the kids delirious with avarice. I would love to credit this with responsible parenting but the truth is they don't get the chance to watch tv as the big tv with the aerial is in the bedroom where their dad sleeps in the daytime. The small tv is in the sitting room with no aerial so they can only watch maternally-approved DVDs on it. I suppose I can take credit for the fact that I have so far resisted buying another tv aerial.

I was almost tempted to buy a christmas tree this year, Zudie asked me very earnestly if we could have one. They do love to see the bright lights and the shiny baubles and tinsel. Where's the harm in a little tree, perhaps 2 feet high, shiny and twinkling in the corner? Of course we couldn't just have a christmas tree without having lots of other christmassy type things. What's a tree without presents under it? wouldn't chains hanging from the ceiling be nice and cheerful, maybe a wreath on the door as well? The next thing you know we'd have dancing santas outside the front door and a simpsons themed nativity scene on the coffee table. We went to a friend's house and saw their tree, sumptously huge and green and beautifully decorated and the first thing Zudie said was "where's the presents?" so maybe that's why he wanted the tree. Zeno vetoed the tree idea anyway, not that I would have caved in if he hadn't but still.

We do have some tinsel in the house at the moment - not on a tree but festooning the walls, as it's Boudy's birthday and we have decorated the place with banners and balloons and tinsel. I got him a "5" balloon and I also had to get a "6" one for Zudie as he doesn't understand about birthdays yet and feels left out. It's been a bit fraught as he (Zudie) doesn't cope very well with excitement, and when he gets a wrapped present he decides what he would like it to be and then becomes very upset if it's not that. It's impossible to predict what he wants because if you ask him the day before it will be something different from what he decides he wants on the actual day of present giving. So Zudie is sharing this birthday with Boudy, and happily Boudy doesn't mind TOO much, I'm trying to make an extra fuss of him whenever I get a chance (whenever zouzou's not watching). Boudie chose the cake (chocolate hedgehog) and he'll blow out five candles but then we'll have to put six candles for Zudie to blow out as well. He's choosing the lunch menu as well - surprise surpise, chicken fillet burger and chips.

Once they opened the presents (and Zeno got one too, a Meerkat mug), and Zudie was over the meltdown that inevitably followed, the 2 of them actually had great fun with the wrapping paper and sellotape, wrapping up various toys and carrying them around for a bit, saying "happy birthday!" and ripping them open with joyous cries upon seeing their old familiar toys. Priceless. Next time I won't bother buying anything just wrap up the entire contents of their toy cupboard.

Well, I say Zudie's 'over' the meltdown but he's still shouting at me intermittently "no dvds presents".