we are burnsheads

Last weekend we put up our Christmas tree, which was good fun for everyone, including the cat who insists on eating pine needles. Those can’t go down easy… I don’t understand it. Eli loves the Christmas tree as well and “helped” put on an ornament or two. Here it is:

Now, we have a nice tree. It looks good. Is it the most amazing, fantastic, jaw dropping, parade-of-lights-award worthy tree ever? No, it’s not. But in Eli’s mind it definitely is. He has adopted a facial expression we call “Christmas Tree Face” whenever he sees the Christmas tree.

Typical scenario: He wakes up from his nap, we get his clothes changed, and then bring him down the stairs and say, “Eli, look at the Christmas tree”. At which point his jaw drops, his chin goes to his chest, his eyes widen, and he breathes in a little breathy gasp as if to say, “Oh my goodness, the Christmas tree is so beautiful!!”

We’re not sure why he started doing this. Perhaps he was trying to mimic our excitement as we came down the stairs. But it’s evolved into a Pavlovian dog-like response to the point that now, at random points throughout the day, we can turn him towards the tree and say, “Eli, look at the Christmas tree”, and Christmas Tree Face appears. We were at Lowes tonight – they had a Christmas tree setup outside the door. “Eli, look at the Christmas tree”… jaw hits the floor. We’re eating dinner at Burger King, miles from a conifer and say, “Eli, do you love our Christmas tree?” Mouth opens, eyes widen, and he contorts his body looking for an evergreen.

It’s good humor, and cheap entertainment.

Tags: Elijah Cash