It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Ridiculous.

Part One: The Gingerbread Village

1. Rudy wasted no time in eating the collapsed gingerbread house in front of her. She was pleased, her chin was tinted unnatural shades of green and red, and she murmured, "canneee" over and over to herself.

2. Marley was persnickety and banged her fists on the table several times when her decorations wouldn't! Stay! Poah-fect! Minutes later, she hopped off her chair and danced around the table, already on to something else.

Part Two: The Tree

3. Marley was most enamored by the bride ornament. True story: Todd and I bought bride and groom ornaments for our wedding cake toppers, and now every year we hang them on our tree and renew our vows. I'm totally just kidding. We do hang them on the tree, but I make sure to have them facing away from each other like they're having yet another argument about how late they're going to be for whatever's got Jen all wound up and Todd all, hey man, take it easy. I'm just kidding again.

4. This year, Rudy helped decorate the tree by shoving a pink princess ornament on top of some lower branches. And every day since we finished, let's say, trimming the tree, she's ripped at least one ornament off to show it to me.