One nice byproduct of having Amina around is that we are out in the neighborhood a lot more. We don’t have a fenced-in yard, so when she needs to go out, she gets a walk.

I’ve noticed during the holiday season that our neighborhood is pretty festive. Lots of decorations. But a disturbing trend I’m noticing is the use of those giant blow-up fixtures of Santa, Frosty, and reindeer. These monstrosities used to be limited to car dealerships, but now they come in a still-too-large “personal size” for home use. Otherwise tastefully decorated houses have these in their yard and it really takes away from all the other work they’ve done hanging lights. And why this year to get all popular? Last year there were maybe one or two, but now I can count half a dozen with two blocks of our house. Can anyone explain their appeal?

Amina doesn’t like them either. And she got really freaked out when Santa rode by on a fire truck last night. Also, I misheard the lead car’s announcement as “Come outside! Here’s comes Santa Claus!” as “Go inside! Lock your doors!”