Santa is coming to THAT tree!

Holidays with two baby Bamfords has not left me with much time to write, but as their audience is clamoring for an update (hi, Mom!), I'll give a quick run-down of recent events:

Annabel's first cold: Clara brought home her first toddler cold of the season, which quickly spread to me and then Annabel, who was just 3 weeks old at the time. Three weeks! It seems so unfair that someone so small should catch a cold. Babies should be immune until their nostrils are big enough to use the nostril-suction thing-y. Thankfully, we all seem to be recovered, seasonal nasal drippiness, notwithstanding.

Clara and the Christmas tree: Clara chose our Christmas tree this year. She pointed to a 7-foot fir and said, "Santa is coming to THAT tree." Greg had his eye on an 8-footer, but she was adamant, "NO! Not that tree. THAT tree." So we had the guy load it onto the car, and drove it home. Admittedly, it is a mighty fine tree. Clara (and Santa) have good taste.

Christmas stockings: Clara has also been very concerned about her lack of a stocking this year. Thankfully, Bronner's (the world's largest Christmas store in Frankenmuth, MI, for all those non-Michiganders out there) had sleigh-loads of designs online that met Clara's exacting specifications. She has a red stocking with Santa on it, and her name, which was very important. Annabel and I got stockings, too, this year, not to be left out. Greg has his childhood stocking that his Mema knitted; it's quite precious.

First Snow: With all the holiday decorating we've been doing, it was time for some snow. It snowed here last Sunday, with enough powder to take Clara sledding. She got a few runs in before it started melting. It's been drizzling today, so the last remaining patches are gone. (Not that that stopped Seattle from closing schools today--ridiculous!) There are rumors that it may snow again tonight. I'll believe it when I see it.