The last few days of Mom's visit

We were working on a little project and needed to trace Clare's hand.
She was game.






Decorating yet more cookies.


Playing "night night."


Laughing here, not crying.


Xander (and Clare, though only because she copies him so readily)
puts on lots of "assemblies" for us these days, just like his school does on Fridays.


Onstage.


Xander "reading" to Clare. What he really does is recite all the books
word for word, because he continues to have a crazy good memory.




The only bows she wants in her hair.






Monday night was the annual McClane Fire Station food drive, where they
bring Santa through the neighborhood. Clare got to stay up late this
year and see him for herself.


Waiting with the neighbor kids.


Xander spots the first fire truck!


Waiting for Santa to come into view (his sleigh is pulled on a flatbed truck
behind the first fire truck; followed by a parade of other emergency vehicles).


Santa says hello to Clare.


Xander gets a candy cane.


Clare's turn.




Posing with the beloved minivan.