Not a BA-Humbug!!

 I love Christmas and I love decorating my house for the season. Even though the decorating is done it this year it has felt different.  I must admit we have had a rough start this holiday season.   The economy is bad even though I love the gas prices. The weather never feels like Christmas in Arizona.  This year we don't have our stainless steel mantle to hang our stockings from-boy do we miss our little masterpiece.  To top it all Tony was laid off from work a couple weeks ago.  With all this going on I can honestly tell you I am not feeling it.  Not to sound like Scrooge-It is kind of nice not to get wrapped up in the stress of the season.  Most Christmas's its more stressful than joyful.  This year I am just so thankful to have a my wonderful family.  Tony and I have spent more time together the last couple weeks than I think we have in the last 6 years of our marriage.  It has been so nice.  His phone isn't ringing off the hook.  Ha Ha-he doesn't even have a phone.  He has been able to walk Paisley to the bus stop.  He even volunteered in her class.  So what if there is nothing under our tree.  We got each other and that is the best gift of all.  This Christmas count your blessings.  I love my family!

a fake tree and a few decorations

Happy Holidays!!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!

Our family has started a new tradition of going to the rim the day after Thanksgiving to get cut down our Christmas tree.  We had so much fun playing in the snow.  OK-maybe not so much fun it was cold, the kids got wet, Thane got sick and poor Kristin was stuck baby-sitting for like 2 hours.  We are bad to leave her alone with all the kids.  I am so sorry Kristin.  I promise a full night of baby-sitting whenever you want.  So this year I needed a skinny tree to fit in a large corner of my house.  Nik has an eye for picking our trees so I was in love when she spotted our tree.  Tall and skinny just like Paisley.  We were the first to pick our tree.  It is so hard to find a good tree so about 3 hours later the remainder of the trees were selected.  We loaded up the trailer and headed back to town.  One by one as we unloaded each individual tree I thought WOW!  They all picked out large and full trees.  Our tree was one of the last trees since we live in Queen Creek.  When my dad pulled out our tree my mom about peed her pants.  Here we have this stick with a few twigs.  It looked nothing like it looked in the forest.  The next morning we took a better look at and decided it looked too much like a Charlie Brown Xmas tree.  So we put up my tall and skinny fake tree.  I love my fake tree.  I feel awful we cut down a tree so if anyone knows of someone that likes sparse trees it is in our garage sitting in water waiting for a home.  If we don't have someone to claim it we will make a wreath and put the rest in our fire pit.  I know so cruel.  Here are a few photos from the day and of our tree.