Tom's guard unit had a holiday party last weekend. The kids had a chance to sit on Santa's lap. Except for Shannon, who burst into tears when she was still about 10 feet away from him. Strange reaction from a kid who practically tries to go home with random strangers at the grocery store.

They had a big table covered in stuffed animals for the kids after they sat with Santa. We call Shannon's new teddy bear John (as in Jaundice). It has to be the ugliest teddy bear I have ever seen but she insisted on that awful yellow color.