810-Lancaster Farming, Saturday December 28, 2002 Kids Christmas Coming Of Baby Betsy GAY BROWNLEE Virginia Correspondent Much to the surprise of every one, baby Elizabeth Betsy, for short was born at great-grand ma’s big farmhouse long before daylight broke on Christmas morning. When their new sister arrived three weeks early, Billy and Becky the 10-year old twins, were sound asleep in their guest room beds. That's because the evening be fore. the twins had worked hard helping their parents and grand parents trim the fresh evergreen tree for great-grandma. They had strung lights, hung ornaments, wove garlands, and dropped tin sel for a festive family gathering that would be held on Christmas afternoon. Their cousins, aunts and uncles were coming. Then they had nibbled pop corn and sipped rich homemade cocoa. They had fallen into bed with excited exhaustion. But, suddenly, instead of sugar plums dancing in her head, Becky came wide awake. She had a very strong sense that some thing unusual was going on. She couldn’t imagine what it might be. In her flannel nightie, she slid out of bed and padded to the window. Morning light was just beginning to streak the sky and during the night, more snow had fallen Christmas Day, at last! An ur gent rap on the door was from Billy. ‘Cmon Beck, race you to the Christmas tree,” he said in a hushed whisper. Instantly they were in flight to ward the living room wishing they could have slid down the banister. But that would have de stroyed its wrapping of greenery, bows, and berries. Soon they were under the tree shifting presents left and right to find the ones with their own name on the label. Then Billy thought he heard quiet voices in the kitchen. “Hey, Beck. listen. I hear something.” Sneaking through the dining room they pressed their ears to the dividing door. “Well, Grandpa,” they heard their grandma saying, “How do you feel now, any older? Are you surprised, you old dear?” “Ho, ho, ho,” laughed their grandpa. “It makes me feel youn ger, my lovely wife.” Billy and Becky screwed up their faces and giggled. Why did old folks talk so goofy? “Oh, children, there you are,” Grow A Crystal Snowflake Overnight 1. Using a pipe cleaner cut into thirds, twist the three pieces together in the middle to form a snowflake shape. Tie a string onto one point of the snowflake. 2. In a wide-mouthed jar or bowl, dissolve borax in boiling water at the ratio of three table spoons of borax to one cup of water. (You can also add a drop of blue food color if you wish.) said Daddy, coming up from be hind. Startled, they faced him, guilti- “There’s a surprise in mother’s room that we want you to see,” he said, kissing them each on top of the head. “But, Pop, it’s Christmas, and you said we could open...” “No buts, Billy. Come with me. You, too, Becky.” ‘Daddy, can’t you just tell us what it is? Can’t it wait until after presents...where’s Mother, anyway... Daddy, do you think 1 got the Barbie I wanted?” Becky said, her words almost tumbling over each other. They had just reached the stairs when a clatter of horses, dogs and jingle bells erupted out side. They pulled back the cur tains and looked through the window. A fellow dressed in red and white was in charge of a team of horses that was pulling a sleigh. He held the reins fast while a tall passenger in a dark overcoat and leather gloves sprang to the ground from his seat. In the man’s hand was a black bag. “Daddy, who is that man and what’s he doing here?” the twins asked as the fellow waded snow to the front door. “If those were reindeer instead of horses, I would definitely say the driver is Santa Claus,” their grandpa chuckled, on his way to greet the man and let him in. “Santa Claus? Really?” “No, but there is a special rea son why we were hoping the doc tor could pay us a visit, provided he could And transportation over these snow drifts.” “Doctor? Why is he here?” 3. Tie the end of the string on the snowflake to a pencil. Sus pend the snowflake into the container with the dissolved borax mixture, allowing the pencil to stretch across the opening. (Make sure there is enough liquid to cover the Kornei Billy wanted to know. “Dont tell me great-granny is sick? What about the pumpkin pies she al ways makes for us?” “Is he one of our relatives Daddy?” Becky asked, with curi osity. Just then a man’s voice rang out: “Surprise, everyone... Merry Christmas...l’m here at last.” The door was shut and he was stomp ing snow off his boots and setting them on the mat to drip dry. The twins stared while the man’s overcoat was hung on the hall tree. Just then, great grandmother, herself, appeared, demanding to know what all the racket was about. When she recognized the doctor, she said, sternly: “Oh, it’s you, is it? Well, its about time...” Daddy said: “Doctor, I am on my way upstairs with Billy and Becky. They haven’t seen the sur prise yet. They don’t know what it is.” Suddenly, everybody stopped talking because from somewhere above them the cry of a newborn baby was heard. The twins eyes grew round with astonishment as they looked at their father for an explanation. “Children, you have a new baby sister. Her name is Eliza beth Betsy, for short.” ‘Oh, Daddy,” cried Becky, with eyes that were misting over with happiness. “A baby sister?” “Wow, that’s really cool,” Billy said, grinning from ear to ear. Sweet Betsy had a tiny beauti ful nose. The wee figure wrapped tightly in a pink and white flan nel blanket looked so precious and peaceful. “We love you Mother. This is the best Christmas, ever.” snowflake.) Leave the container with the snowflake suspended sitting out overnight. When you wake up in the morning you will be surprised! These snowflakes can be dis played in your window for a sparkly winter decoration. , WINTER SPORTS gft , ~ - Whether vou have snow on the ground "'Si or just wish you did. these sites will W- * give you /'\ addition, vou can lead information on the ’> lnstoiy ol the sport hllp://w ww.geocities.com/Holljwood/Bungalow/2764/ Icc Skating International. If you ice-skate 01 enjoy w.iiclnng it this site’s for you It has a big photo gallery, tankings in competitions and *j* California snow report. II sou enjoy snouboaiding. skiing or both you'll enjoy this site, which includes information lor all ages The site has great photos and details on wheie you can enjoy wimei spoils in California and how tun • wmtei spoils can be foi the whole family .. http://uwu.californiasnow.com/ Ski tips. This Watendie Valley resent ’ site has a question and answer section , \\ to help with youi skiing *■ '* ‘v-*s* •a. http://www.watersille.com/winter/tip.slibrary.html 505 Montana winters. In addition to promoting Montana and its winter tun the site includes lacts on a wide vanety ol winter spoils Just some of the spoils you cun find out about include ice fishing, ice climbing, ski joi mg and snowshoemg And there < V* are safety tips, too http://www.wintermt.com/winter.htni U.S. luge team. Meet the members of the U S Luge Team and check out the photos ol the latest luge season The site also includes information on the complex wheie the team Hams. http://www.usaluge.org/ Canadian Ski Museum. Take a \ irtual tour of the museum, O which includes a Canadian skiers Hall of Fame, photos of skiing then and now. and mine http://skimuseum.oUaw a.com/ Aspen activities. Check out the snow conditions in Aspen, Colorado, or gel the local view on winter spoils Best of all, ' with the Mountain Cams, you can see the mounlam/snow conditions The pictures aie updated eveiy 10 minutes, and the cameras operate fiom 7 a m to 4 p m Mountain Time http://wuw.skiaspen.com IP Canadian figure skating. Read about the athletes involved in Sjj£- skating, find out who’s in the Hall ot Fame and get a schedule of upcoming events O http://wuw.cfsa.ca/ ‘ fPHMk Dog sledding. History, trivia and much more z -iSSf are a ** P‘* rt ls sltl! ‘‘bout the famous Iditarod raCC m The Student’s Playground secllon has inhumation on the mushers, the v® ! ■ 'P? P L ’°P' e P dr| of the race games and more y'"' y http.7/uuu.idilarod.com/ Please note This list only applies to the sites listed not to any sites that may be linked Web sites change constantly At the time this article was written these Web addresses worked Some of the sites may call (or software you do not have You can still look at much of the information on the site but you may need the software for movies If you do need software be sure to have your parent(s) read any software agreements before you download it