when I started this blog five years ago, I was a pet sitter and the name animal-crackers made sense. now I'm a stay-at-home-dad and freelance writer, but rather than confuse everyone by getting a different blog, it's just easier to keep posting things here.

This Christmas hasn't been as jolly as the past two. Not sure why. I didn't feel much like hanging lights outside. Had no interest in taking the boys to see Santa. And the usually enjoyable gift shopping has been unusually annoying.

Don't get me wrong -- everything is mostly fine. Andrea and I exchanged cool gifts. (She got me a desk, I got her a dresser. :) The tree is awesome. The boys are getting a ton of presents -- including a lego table. And the gifts to family are in the mail.

The tree rocks. We made a gingerbread house (which sort of fell apart). We scarfed down three dozen holiday tamales. We even have plans to visit friends for Christmas dinner.

So why does it feel like something is missing?