We took Sammy to Charmingfare Farm tonight - absolutely perfect weather for it. We met up with Alisa, Jeff and the kids and Jessie, Nate and Emily. After lots of squealing and excited-arm flailing at the llamas and chickens (well, the best he could all bundled up in ten kazillion layers), we clamored aboard a horse-drawn wagon and mellowed out on piles of straw under a clear sky as we wandered through acres of trees and fields, through lighted arches and past decorated holiday scenes. It was so wonderful to cozy up with Jay and Sammy under the stars, and to look across the cart and see Alisa and Jeff snuggled with their kids and Jessie and Nate tucked under a blanket with Emily.

At the end of the ride, the kids got to see Santa. Sammy squealed again, immediately grabbed for the beard, and asked for another World Series win for the Red Sox. He's selfless like that.

Oh yeah, he asked for more wrapping paper, too. Apparently it's rather tasty - or at least that's what I've gathered, since he will push us out of the way just to grab a handful to shove in his mouth. He eats all his veggies, so maybe Santa will bring what he asked for. You can all thank him in October. ;-)