Deck the Halls

It's been a while...  I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.  We spent the entire time with friends and family.  Exactly my kind of holiday weekend.  It was wonderful.  The Saturday after Thanksgiving every year, we pick out our Christmas tree and officially deck the halls for the season.  I love it.  Peppermint tea, hot cocoa, Christmas carols, leftover turkey pot pie, tree decorating, reminiscing, creating new memories...love it all.

Here are some pictures from our lately...

Myles and Santa at the tree farm.  I'm going to be totally honest on this one...this Santa kind of creeps me out.  Not in a pedophile kind of way, but a weird guy that isn't all that good with kids despite the Santa suit kind of way.  If he's your uncle...sorry.

My kids are used to him after several years of awkwardness.

Self portrait with my kiddies on a moving horse drawn wagon ride to the trees.  Not the best...but good enough for me.

The kids pretending to cut down trees with sticks.

Myles taking credit for this enormous tree that my brother-in-law cut down.  It took quite a while to cut through the nine inch trunk.  It also took 110 pounds of free weights to counter weigh the tree stand.  Seriously...the big hoss.  It is now at home in my in-laws living room.

We didn't get a family picture...this is as close as we got.  At least it proves we were all there.

Time to head back to the barn for cider and popcorn.

On to decorating.  The kids take such pride and care in each and every ornament.  This year Jillian "remembered" every single ornament that she came across.

Seriously, love her.

You can't tell here, but she was quite nervous on the ladder.

Jillian's year to hang the angel.  Remember the nervous on the ladder deal?  Yeah, well Dad on a ladder, holding her while reaching for the top of a 10 foot tree...not happening.

Myles tried.  Myles screamed.

My sweet boy.

With the tree, our Elfie returned.

Want a quick tour around a few of our Christmas decorations for the year?

Myles made a masterpiece of art as a gift for Santa.  He has also requested to leave Santa a turkey sandwich, instead of cookies.  He told me he thought Santa should have something healthy from us.

Our living room mantle.

Fishing line + bulbs hanging from a chandelier.  My kids love it.

I love to have seasonal frames that I only bring out once a year.  This little gem is from two years ago.

After we get our tree up, I always go a little crazy with the leftover branches.  Why not?

I love this little pocket vase for my front door.  Each season I can change out the magnets and it is ready to greet our friends and family.

Christmas begins with the nativity scene front and center in our family room.  Yes, branches there too.  The kids take turns putting in baby Jesus the night of Christmas Eve each year.  The most important job of all in the Christmas season...sometimes we put him in twice...once for each kid.

This morning Elfie was in our tree.

Tomorrow...riding on a pirate ship with Sleeping Beauty and Anakin Skywalker.  Yes, Anakin is posing Titanic style.  They are going to love it.

What holiday traditions start Thanksgiving weekend for you?  Did you make any new ones?