the sturdy kind that doesn't mind the snow

We got our very first real tree!  Thanks to Kate & Caleb who do it every year and allowed us to piggy back on their tradition.   It was actually just in the nick of time too.  Our fake tree that we inherited with this house tries to ruin our Christmas every year.  It's huge, awkward, broken and sooo hard to put up.  And it's Joey's unhappy task of putting it up at the beginning of every December.   Then we spend the rest of the season fixing the top part that always manages to get unfixed.  Anyway - we didn't realize how wonderful it would be to have a real tree.  You have a fun family outing, cut down a tree, bring it home and voila - you have a tree that smells good and is all ready for decorating.

We went the day after Thanksgiving and it was so warm and sunny that it did not seem like we should be picking out Christmas trees.  It was beautiful but I sort of missed some festive snow or even cold .. just for a minute.

THE SIBS

photos by deb style

the wilsons find their tree!

and we find ours..

This year I decided to start a new tradition that my sister Sarah & Shaun did with their kids.  Every year she had them pick out an ornament and would write their name on it and how old they were. 

Last year it was so fun to decorate her tree and see what ornaments Jack and Rachel picked out at what age and I decided I wanted to carry on the tradition.

So our tree looks kind of funny now with just 3 unmatching ornaments.  (Luke picked R2D2, Lucy picked an owl for her and an owl for Maryanne) But it will be fun to add to them every year.  And then when my kids have their own families and christmas trees - I will give them their ornaments ... if I can part with them.

nothing says Christmas like R2D2

Kids picked out the angel for the top too.

So our tree is up.  Now I guess we should start thinking about some presents huh?