We spent the morning at AJ�s preschool Christmas party where we were entertained by our progeny, in their Christmas finery, singing carols off key with motions that may or may not have had anything to do with the text of the songs. It was pretty adorable (not so adorable was the sight of many adult-sized butts squeezed into preschool-sized chairs). AJ, who loves to sing, raced ahead of most of his friends during the song, refusing to stop for the soloists who were too scared to pipe in with their lines on time, and holding the last note until they caught up. Only four and already a conductor�s problem. Then again, maybe he�s just discovered counterpoint.

After much photo-taking and applause, we adjourned to the knee-high tables to build gingerbread houses with tubs of icing and graham crackers applied to small milk cartons. AJ was less than enthusiastic about the project, as he was really more interested in devouring the icing � something I heartily discouraged, as he does not understand the logic of a taboo on double-dipping. But he managed to slap a few gingerbread men and candies on the roof after I slathered it with icing for him. He made a grumpy face out of pretzel sticks and marshmallows on one side of the house, which caused the little boy sitting next to AJ � the one who�d carefully paved every inch of his roof with perfectly arranged pretzel sticks around the licorice chimney and laid in a path made of Andes mints that would have been the envy of any contractor � to shriek, �Your house is alive!!!� AJ took that to mean he was finished and abandoned his home to go in search of chocolate doughnuts and fruit punch while we talked with our neighbors, who also work at home, about holding an office party.

AJ has been tired and grumpy since we got home, which means I�m rather tired and grumpy too. Hopefully we will both regain our humor by the time he �wakes up� from his �nap� (far too little sleeping is going on). In the meantime, I leave you with a couple of pictures from our trip into the city last weekend.

AJ making himself at home in his uncle�s office.

AJ in our hotel window seat.

And now, I must go investigate further the two enormous packages that just arrived. One is a package from Zingerman�s, a gift from my aunt and uncle, containing � pound each of five different kinds of cheese and three loaves of bread. The other is from my friend M. who has sent piles of chocolate chip cookies, pizzelles, truffles, and sugar cookies cut and iced to look like Thomas the Tank Engine and friends (I�m guessing those are for AJ), not to mention some beautifully wrapped packages. I think we�re going to need to invite some people over to help us eat our way through this. But first I need to taste test things, to make sure they�re suitable for sharing. That�s my story and I�m sticking to it.

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