We’re getting ready to host a Christmas visit by my parents, our first since moving to L.A., so we picked up a tree at a lot in Larchmont on Friday and built our annual gingerbread house (one of our better ones, with no major construction gaffes and some judicious use of kitchen scissors to trim non pareils and Rolos; past years: 2005, 2006, and 2007). We had a great brunch at Janet and Eric’s with Michael and Ali, and did some house-hunting, which has been fun but a little frustrating. Where are those plummeting house prices when you need them?