So many Christmases

And so many beautiful Christmas trees. One of my favorite parts of Christmas morning is waking up early and looking at the tree, glowing and ready. It is so peaceful.

Merry Christmas

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Baltimore in the snow

Newspapers say this was the biggest December storm since record-keeping started in 1883. I really feel lucky.

The square is like Narnia, complete with lion statues and lamp posts!

(A heart someone drew in the snow.)

(Little snow babies.)

(The sidewalk outside our house.)

Let it snow!

(Golfing in the middle of our street.)

Woke up this morning to a beautiful Winter Wonderland! I've never seen anything like this. They say it is the biggest storm the mid-Atlantic has seen in decades. We could not leave our house all day, except to walk next door for some chicken wings. Even that felt like an adventure.

It really feels like Christmas here.

California, the East Coast wins on this one.

California dreamin'

(Union Station in DC.)

I'll be home for Christmas! Just 1 week left....

Shuttle driver

Today started out rough. I grabbed my coat and rushed out the door, aware that the shuttle would be there any minute and the next wasn't going to come for another half hour. I joined the long line stretching down the sidewalk and waited for the shuttle to come down the street. When it arrived the students filed on and took their seats or standing spots. With just 3 of us left, the driver turned and said, "Uh uh. No more room."

The standing students squished in a bit more, making room for all of us. The driver said, "Okay, you and you, come on. But not you. No room," and closed the glass door in my face. I could see the students in the front saying, "No! There's plenty of room. She can fit!" But the driver shook her head from side to side and pushed on the gas. I was left standing all alone.

I turned, feeling dejected and frustrated. I might have cried. I wasn't the last kid picked for the kickball game. I was the kid who wasn't picked at all. I was the kid who was told to go sit against the wall and watch.

I've always been a good shuttle rider. I say "thank you" to the drivers and I never talk on the phone. Why did she have to be so mean?

Go Wizards!

School is trying really hard to take the fun out of my life, but I'm not letting it. As a belated b-day gift for David, we took the train over to DC for a Wizards-Celtics game. Over the course of the evening the two of us put away nachos, a soft pretzel, a chicken sandwich, a hot dog and two large sodas. Pretty impressive. The best part might have been the halftime show. Watch it, then tell me how it's done. Please.

(A map to the Verizon Center drawn on my hand.)

First snow!

Was it embarrassing how excited I got about the snow? A little. I stood in my pajamas on our stoop taking pictures, while passersby shuffled down the street in their boots and umbrellas. I wanted to yell, "It's snowing! Do you see the snow? Look!" but instead I turned my face up and caught the snowflakes in my hands.

Lighting of the monument

In Baltimore, Christmas season begins with the lighting of the Washington Monument, the first monument built in honor of George Washington.

And to top it off, we're expecting snow this weekend! I see little flurries outside the window, and my heart is flurrying too. Cheesy, I know, but I'm not exactly familiar with a winter full of snow. Hopefully it sticks! That's what us California people say, because it never sticks. Ha ha.