Decorating the Tree

We came back from Norfolk on the Friday after Thanksgiving so we could have some time at home, but most of all so we could get the Christmas decorations up. I love getting a Christmas tree and decorating the house for Christmas. Every year I have to force myself to follow my mom's old rule of no Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving. I can still hear her telling us this. She would say "Let Thanksgiving be celebrated too. Don't just rush through it." As much as I love decorating, I like my mom's theory too.

So... We went to get the tree early Saturday morning. We have been going to the same floral shop to get the tree since we have been married. The first year, I got a 5+ foot tree to put in our small ghetto apartment. I can still remember Robb laughing at me. Its not a Christmas tree farm but it is a special tradition to Robb and I. We picked a big beautiful tree with the help of the kids. Its always fun to watch Robb tie the tree to the top of the car.
My motto for picking a tree has always been:"I need a tree taller than me". So we got our 6 1/2 foot tree home and found out the trunk was too big to fit into our old stand. After a trip to the hardware store for a bigger tree stand, we got started.

It is always fun to unpack all the ornaments and remember the occasion that we got it for and who gave it too us. The kids have some really neat ornaments from family and friends. Bryce and Caleb seemed like they understood the concept of spreading the ornaments out more and decorating the entire tree this year. They did a great job. It was cute to watch Abby stare in wonder at the fact that we put a tree in our house. Eventually she joined in the fun too, but she liked to take the ornaments off and come show you the "pretty" that she found.