Pa-Rum-Pa-Pum-Pum

In an effort to ward off the snowstorm stir-crazies, we took Tess today to pick out our Christmas ornament for the year.

Compulsive boot-wearing is a telltale symptom of the snowstorm stir-crazies.

Every year we pick out an ornament that somehow represents that year. With so many "firsts" this year, I figured we'd have a lot to choose from.

Up until this year, Ry & I were the only ones who had a say in what ornament we selected. We decided to let Tess pick this year--with some parental guidance, of course.

Ry tried to entice Tess with the selection of Sesame Street ornaments, but she was only mildly interested.

I thought she would go for a cute Santa, or maybe a snowman or big snowflake in honor of our huge storm.

Tess had other plans.

I have absolutely no idea why, but she latched on to this horrible snare drum from the tree with all the over-priced miniature oboes, french horns, clarinets and violas.

She kept playing it with two fingers and saying "Pum, Pum!" She refused to leave it behind.

I tried to appease her with a nutcracker ornament that was playing a drum. We're learning that the age of 2 is not one of compromise.

2009: The Year of the Snare Drum

So our tree has a new addition. Our new ornament may be more symbolic than we realize.