handsful

Lots going on here, as I’m sure it is with everyone else…

We’ve done two parades, a Walk Thru Bethlehem event, went to the Charlotte light show at the raceway, the bigs have had 3 Christmas concerts (so far), and we’ve decorated inside and out.

Oh, and did I mention it’s 12/12 and I’m done with shopping?  Yes, I’m that good.  (this is not usual, folks)

I even did a craft with the littles!  I know, right?  It’s so unlike me.  I used to be very crafty, but that has waned big time as I’ve gotten more OCD…uh, I mean older.  The mess and clutter that crafting makes drives. me. nuts.  But, this one was quick, easy, and fun.

I poked holes in the tops for hanging after taking this picture.  The littles hand prints will be dry by Saturday, ready for painting!

I still have to get our cards out in the mail, and do our usual (and some new recipes I’m excited to try) baking/cooking done.  And, enjoy my 40-something birthday in 5 days.

Since our picture taking is in warp speed lately, I’ll just post our “putting up the tree” shots for now.  We bought our tree at the usual spot, a local farmer’s market in town.  Same place we get fresh apples, local honey, amazing chocolate pecan pies, etc.  Since our ceilings are really high in the house, we weren’t bound by height, only price :)

Tradition calls for us to all decorate the house, while Randy (with Marley’s assistance) wrestles with the lights.  He’s VERY particular about how they’re done, so it’s off limits for me.  I’m quite okay with this.  We’re a non-garland family, just lights and ornaments.  We do have about 30 tin icicles that we’ve had for years and they always go on last, right on the ends of the branches.

When we’re ready for the ornaments (which we have scads of…), I sit beside the bin  and pass them out to eager big and little hands ready to hang…with Randy’s guidance on where.

It’s also mandatory that I get a shot of each kiddo hanging their “baby’s first…” ornament.  (It usually takes me a few seconds to decide which baby is Marley, Payton, or Ethan).

Decorating mayhem…

and cuteness.

Someone was trying to avoid a photo.  Bah humbug.

Final touch…adding the beautiful angel that Randy and I bought early in our marriage, to the top.

Christmas tree, 2012, complete.