I know you were all dying to learn this: According to the label on the fancy French organic canola oil, which I did not buy, it comes from a plant related to mustard. Which is funny, since one of the reasons people cook with it is because canola oil is essentially flavorless.

The less fancy US organic canola oil I bought made wonderful popcorn.

Today, we went to the mall. We wanted to hit the discount department stores at our local mall, mostly for sippy cups and warm pjs for Noah.

When we got there, there was no line to have your picture taken with Santa.

No line.

On a Saturday.

In December.

Noah was not dressed for it. He was wearing an orange polo-collar onesie and little jeans. And his defaced dragon shoes.

But there was no line.

No.Line.

Noah was also overtired. His morning nap had been 25 minutes.

But there was no line.

So we have a picture of Noah on Santa’s lap, looking dazed and tired, and not smiling. But at least he isn’t crying. And you can’t see that the shoes are defaced.

(Grandma-in-DC, we’re sorry he wasn’t in his Christmas PJs. But there was No Line. Did I mention that there was no line? We’ll set up some Christmas PJ pictures at home.)