Decking the halls

The Christmas tunes are pumping at our house now. I know Ryan is against the tree going up before December 1st, (because he's birthday is the 30th, & he can't mix the 2 holidays). But since I'm the one home all day and I lugged the whole thing out alone, I decided it was up to me. Also I just didn't mention/ask him, so he couldn't do anything about it once it was up. Ok he is not really a grinch. He has always had a million other things on his mind around Christmas and this year is the same. He is BUSY, he just started his Bar admissions course which lasts till May on top of his regular work. Sometimes I find myself complaining for him. He tries to have a good attitude about it all. It's life right.

Lindsay requested to see my tree, so here it is I love it My 1st tree ever!

Just so ya know, it is better in person, and trust me I'll make it worth your while, some hot chocolate and cookies too. So come on over.Love this little nativity Sadie can play with.

Anyways I am excited to have my house feeling all Christmasy. Which has all got me thinking about the whole season. There is soooo much that happens around this time of year, service, celebration of Christ's birth, chocolate, cookies, baking, the food is endless, parties, friends families, cards, gifts, Santa, elves, caroling, snow, tradtions, and more. I love it all, and want to do it all too!
Since I'm starting to think of us more as a family I was thinking about traditions. Things that we will do some old some new.
A few I have been thinking of
see the nativity
Secret Santa another family (remember pixies)
limit our gifts (I've been thinking lots about this one)
a trip to the zoo lights
and of course just more of the little things that are so fun.

What does everybody else do?
My family is classic the pyjamas just can't die year after year my mom can't not have them for everybody Christmas Eve.

A few years a ago.. obviously

On Oprah today she Did not have her Favorite things this year. Instead, it was all about being thrifty, which in turn means gifts from the heart. It is so true these gifts mean way more and become the ones that we treasure. As cool as the new iphone, or those diamond earrings would be. You can go to oprah.com and get download some of her favorite Christmas songs.

I tried to take Sadies picture by the tree and it wasn't happening & then I got this great idea in my head & it is much better in my head. Here is the game who do you spy in the ornament?

Again confirming my rookie photography skills, I may try this again.