O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

It is now officially Christmas in our house....the tree is up!

Ever since we have lived together, Brian has talked about going out to one of those tree farms where you chop down your own tree, then drag it through the woods to your car, "Christmas Vacation" style. And ever year, something has come up to prevent us from doing so...and while I feel bad that something has always come up, a part of me is always relieved. Why? A number of reasons:

1. I hate the cold. I get whiny when I'm cold...no one needs to hear that.

2. I hate the cold even more when there is physical activity involved...there's nothing worse than your lungs feeling like they're going to explode because you're out of shape and hiking through the woods, then the cold makes it feel like someone is stabbing you with an ice pick.

3. I don't understand the point of having to do manual labor, then pay someone else while you do it. (especially when you're paying twice as much for the tree!)

So back to this year...we had full intentions of going out to a tree farm for the family adventure...however, when Saturday rolled around, it was just too bitter cold to do so. (Phew!) After a promise to Brian that next year we would go to the farm, we headed out to Lowe's for a good old fashioned tree picking.

Once we got it up at home, I of course had to introduce Jake to the tree & get some pictures (I have a feeling I'm going to be saying the phrase "No touch" a lot over the next few weeks....)

(and no-he's not posing as Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer, he tipped forward at school & has some battle wounds)

I also have to show off our new favorite ornaments from my friend, Teri...we did an ornament exchange at my book club meeting this month and she got me these in honor of our annual Luau Party :)

It was a very productive weekend....but it was one that left Gracie feeling quite exhausted.