It's beginning to look alot like . . .

. . .CHRISTMAS!

Gene commented tonight that it does seem more Christmas-y this year. Why? "Because your more into it this year."

That's right. I'm in the spirit, the holiday spirit . . . do do do do do do do . . . (it's a song too - I don't know why you can't hear the same voices in your head).

I get that way about every two years. The other years I think we should only celebrate every other year. These holidays seem to come way to close together.

So, Saturday, to kick the season off, we bought a tree. It has become a tradition.



We always go to the same place.

We search out just the right one.

So many trees . . .

ADD moment - look at this leaf, its a heart.

There was a little walking.

We narrowed it down to 3.

Daddy's boy!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I've tried making this our Christmas card but it keeps coming out fuzzy. We'll re-take some this week elsewhere.
 

You'll see pictures of the chosen tree later. We have all new ornaments each year. We re-use very few "real" ornaments.
8 kids + crafts done everywhere = LOTS of precious.

 We got some Christmas lights out over the summer for VBS and discovered that we needed new lights. Family Dollar had some for $2 = I got LOTS!

The tree got new colored lights and I wanted something for the window beside the front door.
$2 lights to the rescue. I've got about $6-$8 there instead of the $25-$35 pre-lit tree I was eyeballing.

I need to fluff my wreath - but I've had it awhile, the excitement is over.
I put up the "tree" lights with a few well placed push pins.
 

It looks way better from the road, this picture is too close.
And I'm trying to hang a curtain behind the front door and window (which I've been wanting to do for a while). My extra curtain rods that are big enough are stuck in the too small position (another job for the honey-do list). Your not going to see pictures from the inside because our Foyer is the junk room. It was painted earlier this year to make me feel better - now the mess leans against better looking walls.
When you come visit, come on 'round back like a good friend. You can't get in the front anyway.

Sunday, we went to the town Christmas Parade. We hung out with our friends, the Browns, of no known relation.

This is my gaggle waiting patiently for the parade to start.

Two little boys and a good friend.

We changed our Family Devotion time to an Advent study. We've done Jesse Trees in the past (even more ornaments) but this year we are doing a pretty (and so far not terribly time consuming - until we sing and pray) Advent Activity Calendar called Knowing Him by Name. Each day we study a different name for Jesus. And we, for the first time, are doing an Advent Wreath - only ours is not round, it sits on the window seal. (I know there is a reason it should be round but I just can't do that until we have bigger littles).

AND tonight we went to Lights of Hope. We saw some lights (it's not very big, we drove around twice) and Jolly Ol' St. Nicholas.

Did I mention they dress themselves?
I love how Josiah is eyeballing Santa - he had just woke up and buried himself in me until we left.

 Josiah and Autumn did not sit with Santa - guess they won't get 'nuttin.

What have we learned this week?

*We like having Nana stay and miss her already. Very Much!

*We ALL really should go to sleep earlier. (The exhausted mama was in bed at 8pm last night - and didn't roll out until after 8 this morning - and feels great about it).

*Daddy is the most wonderful Daddy. He has to be to live with Mama.

*Some perfect stranger asked one of those dumb questions that I've ranted about before - one of those stupid remarks about lots of kids - and Mama was very polite and changed the subject (it is not I but the Spirit who lives within me) - but she has been thinking of all the impolite and only mildly humorous comebacks she could have used since then. So, praise the Lord anyhow.

*We have mixed emotions about the Crystal Sea, which is before the throne of God . . . will there be a "No Swimming" sign or is swimming aloud? Would that be fun or distracting? (this was an actual conversation at supper one night)

*I like spending money. I even like to spend it in virtual stores. Pushing those virtual carts at 3 or more stores at the same time is really the way to go. I have just a few more presents to procure (like 12 or 15- here, thats not many). WooHoo! Last year I was NOT this on top of it.

Another big day tomorrow, and the next day, and . . . well, we have nothing on the calendar for this time next week. Stay tuned!