Myiah, my “Lil’ Sister” through Big Brothers/Big Sisters, brought me so much joy when I celebrated Christmas (which was also her 9th birthday!) with her this week. Circa ’21 is a gem in our Quad-Cities community: a dinner/theater showplace where folks have been enjoying quality local theater productions for over 40 years.
Myiah and I attended a childrens’ show, “Fancy Nancy’s Splendiferous Christmas” together, complete with juice boxes and Hershey’s bars. Fancy Nancy is the protagonist of a series of chapter books that Myiah enjoys, so this production was extra special.
After the show, we went to lunch at Lagomarcino’s, an old-fashioned soda shop, confection maker and lunch spot and then went back to my house to play with Lucy, our standard poodle, and open gifts.
At the beginning of December, Myiah helped me decorate the house for Christmas and especially enjoyed positioning my collection of nutcrackers on the fireplace mantle along with my family’s personalized stockings that I have cross-stitched over the years.
Unbeknownst to Myiah, the mantle was now adorned with a new stocking: a friendly-looking snowman with a carrot nose that bears Myiah’s embroidered name. To say she was thrilled was an understatement! The happiness and excitement etched on her face when she saw it was priceless.
Myiah also loved her gifts. I chose a series of chapter books, a big book full of mazes (which she loves), a book filled with 365 science experiments for us to do together and a book of math puzzles (her favorite subject!). I am so grateful for the time spent with my “Christmas angel”!