Oh Christmas Tree

We got our Christmas started off with a bang!  The girls and I walked in the Westminster Christmas parade with the Bookmobile.  Gwyn even wore her "Corky" hat.  (Corky is the library's penguin mascot)  Lyla brought her bag full of left-over Halloween candy to give out.  We did take out all the candy that was obviously Halloween candy.  They had a pretty big load of candy, but they ran out before we got to the big crowds on Main St., which is good actually because they were getting behind trying to give a piece to every single kid.  It was a fun way to kick off the Christmas season.

The next day we went to Davidson's Tree Farm to get our Christmas tree.  We had previously decided that we needed to get a tree that Jason and I could reach our hands around.  That never quite works out when we are picking a tree though.  We got one that wasn't too big though and loaded it up.  We were even super prepared this year because Jason brought his reciprocating saw to cut it down.  I think the girls enjoy the cart the most of all though.

After getting the tree home, but before decorating anything, we had to rake the yard.  It wasn't so bad as we'd already blown the leaves a few weeks prior.  But there was still a huge mess of leaves to rake up and dump.  At least we don't have to bag it.  We can just dump it all down the hill behind the house into the woods.  The girls were troopers though and didn't complain too much even though the leaves were too wet and yucky to jump in or play with.

And the reward for the hard work?  Decorating the tree!  I put the lights on it, but then we let the girls put everything else on.  So some of the limbs are super weighed down and there are some ornaments hanging 2-3 to a limb, but I think it looks good in a mish-mash kind of way.  Jason would not make a normal face for the picture.  He is doing something silly in every one.  So this is the picture for the world to see. ;)

We're off to a fun and joyous Christmastide!