Big wheels

This Chanukah has been pretty fabulous so far. Mama made jelly donuts a couple of nights ago (a freshman effort of only moderate success) and latkes two nights ago (smashing victory — they were delicious!), and Carmela and Daddy and Mama have been reading stories about Chanukah, lighting the candles on the menorah, and playing with dreidels (which Carmela admits to liking to shove in her mouth). Carmela also discovered gelt this year, and enjoys watching Mama and Daddy cringe while she chews through the shiny metal wrapper to get to the chocolate inside. On the first or second night, Carmela got a pretty Chanukah book and a Sesame Street DVD from her Uncle Jason; she has already enjoyed watching some Sesame Street, and so has Mama, for that matter, because they're old episodes. A couple of days ago she got a box in the mail from her Great-Cousins Merle and Irene in Oakland, who sent a charming and very old pillow shaped like a terrier and covered in a lovely quilted cloth with a button eye, and some necklace pendants, including an ivory heart and a locket that belonged to Carmela's Great-Great Grandma. And today, Mrs. Row, the mother of Carmela's housemate, Mr. Richard, gave Carmela a lovely present: A rainbow-colored Fisher Price xylophone that belonged to Mr. Richard when he was a little boy. So nice! It has a long yellow string and makes a cheerful dinging noise when she pulls it across the floor. She loves it!

To celebrate the fifth night of Chanukah, Carmela and Mama went to Auntie Katy's annual cookie exchange where they sampled several different kinds of cookies and enjoyed some hot cider. When she got home, Uncle Brett and Auntie Emily stopped by with yet another truly wonderful gift: A tricycle!! Carmela was already in her jammies and thinking about going to bed, but as soon as she laid eyes on her shiny red new Radio Flyer, she abandoned all thoughts of bedtime. Uncle Brett and Auntie Emily helped her take a couple of spins around the living room, and then Carmela decided she wanted to get off to push instead, but then decided she wanted to get back on and ride. It was great. Mama and Daddy are looking forward to many years of watching Carmela race her trike up and down the sidewalk, and around the parking lot of the school down the street. Thanks, Uncle Brett and Auntie Emily!

Carmela can hardly believe there are still three whole nights of Chanukah left!