Yep, we finally have snow.
I say *finally* not because I was looking forward to it, but because we hung onto fall a little longer than we usually do up here. We didn't have to drive through a snowstorm over Thanksgiving weekend, and the little bit of snow we've gotten so far has been the pretty kind -- flocking trees and fields, but melting off the roads so it doesn't slow down our commutes.
As you can see, Bel was ready for it - boots and all. The doll she's holding wasn't wrapped in a blanket because (I think) he has footie jammies on. Her other dolls have to get wrapped now to leave the house, which usually entails a last-minute hunt for a suitable doll blanket. She has several, but they're never where she wants them when it's time to go.
She went to a senior center yesterday to sing with a group of her classmates. I asked how many people were there and she said "4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11". "So a lot, huh?" I asked, and she nodded. "We sing Christmas carols," she told me. She LOVES to sing, and seems to have had a good time.
Last night I got home late from work, so late that everyone else was in bed and asleep. Evidently I was missed, because this morning the kids and the cat all piled into bed with me to snuggle before we started getting ready for the day. Annabel kept asking for 5 more minutes and tried really hard to convince me it was still nighttime out and that we should stay in bed.
I would've if I could've.
But no! There were big things to do on my to-do list for work today. And Tuesday is Media Center day for Otto, when he exchanges last week's books for new ones. Bel is learning about the letter H this week, and we should go shopping tonight at the dollar store for a gift exchange gift for her class.
The tree is up, if not decorated yet, but we'll get to that. Stockings, cookies, presents -- all in progress. Despite not being done I feel kind of ahead of the game.
The only thing I'm not sure about is... Santa.
Bel is afraid of him this year.
Santa visited day care last week for the holiday party, and she transferred her grip on Jon's legs from one to the other as they walked past him, sidling around so her dad was between her and Santa at all times. Jon didn't have to slow down or stop, either, while she travelled around from right leg to left. No, she wanted to keep moving and get some more space between her and the guy in the red suit.
He'll deliver a present for her anyway, I'm sure. Not certain exactly what it is he'll bring just yet, but I'm sure he'll find... something.
