Decorating the Tree

Dave always like to take a pic of the kids wrapped in the lights!

Drinking hot chocolate!

Holding his new train ornament from Grandma--bummed it's blurry!

Holding her new "Tangled" ornament--Ellie loves the movie!

Jack did this all on his own--found the stockings and put them on like socks--hysterical!

Christmas 2011

Love this pic--LOVE my kids!!

I love to decorate the Christmas tree. I'm not a fan of the craziness that Christmas decorations have become (overdecorating, etc) but I love the simpleness of the tree and what it symbolizes. So every year we make hot chocolate, play Christmas music and decorate the tree (now it is not always fun and games when Dave and I bicker over lights, where to put the tree, etc but for the most part it is a very pleasant experience :) The kids love to look in the box and go through all of their special ornaments. My mom has been giving a new ornament every year since the year Dave and I met. Now that we have kids she has given a new Hallmark to each one of them every year since they were born. This year Ellie got a "Tangled" ornament (the movie of Rapunzel--super cute movie) and Jack got a train because he is so into trains. They love opening their new ornament every year and putting it on the tree! I love going through all of the special ornaments that have made over the years--such a bittersweet moment. I love that our tree symbolizes our family so well! So we finally have our tree up and decorated and all the lights works :) We have some outside lights up and now we can look forward to enjoying the tree and seeing the presents on Christmas morning! We also started our Advent calendar and the kids have been having fun reading the note that is included in each day and reading the bible verse, etc. Such a wonderful time of the year!!!