Let It Begin!!

Thanksgiving is over which means...

It's time to decorate for Christmas!!!!!!

WOOOHOOOO!!!  Oh Yeah!!!!!!!

I LOVE this time of year!!

The tree is up and the decorations will continue going up tomorrow.  First thing unpacked was the Christmas music so that the rooms of the house could be filled with Christmas songs.  We did not decorate until after supper so only a few of the children managed to stay up until the tree was all decorated.  This year we opted to put up the smaller 6 foot tree because a certain Princess is on the go and everything that she can reach is fair game to her yank and toss.  Hopefully we outsmarted her this year by putting the tree up on a table.  Don't ask me how we will handle next year yet. 

As I watched my children tell Daddy where to put the ornaments on the tree I just laughed because Ethan was all over things declaring this tree is "what I always wanted" and Reagan was chattering about how she could put the ornaments on all by herself way up at the top. This year because we had a smaller tree I had to select which ornaments would not be making an appearance. That was hard for me because I simply LOVE decorating my tree with so many special ornaments.  I do have to admit I liked having the tree prelit as that seems to take forever to do and I actually was able to get in a small nap before the festivities began.

It will take us a couple more days to get everything set out and all decorations hung.  That's okay because we have all the time to enjoy it together.  Let's see here.... this Christmas marks #16 for Madelaine, #7 for Ethan, #3 for the triplets, and #2 for Reagan and Carrington and #1 for Benjamin and #42 for Brian and I.  It seems strange that my younger son has celebrated more Christmas seasons than his older brothers and sisters.  Maybe strange is not the word but humbling is. Humbling because I realize that my little ones never were told the reason for the season and more than likely did not experience the love and blessings brought on from Christ's birth.  Not only do they get to experience that every year but they also get to have fun in all the festivities and traditions of a family:  THEIR FAMILY!!

Carrington puts on her Christmas attire!

Evelyn checks to see if snow globes are
working while Hudson supervises the tree
trimmers. (if you remember Owen does not
like the touch of the tree so he prefers to stay
out of the festivities).

Who wears the hat the cutest?!

The faithful tree trimmers held in until it was all said
and done.  I think my children did a fantastic job
decorating the tree.  I remember being their age and all
the fun that went with deciding where the ornaments
should go and now I get to watch my children go
through that same excitement.!!