Heather, Chris, Joshua, Alyssa, & Emily

It's Not All About the Tree...

We wouldn't want anyone to think we had neglected the rest of the house. After all, we do have eight boxes full of Christmas decorations in the garage. And believe it or not, we found a place for everything around the house. Here are some photos...

The stockings were hung...

By the chimney with care...

The reindeer survived the move!!

Hark the herald...

Hanging Christmas Tree Ornaments...

Unlike the lights, Joshua and Alyssa were instrumental in hanging the ornaments! Here are some pictures of them hard at work...

Good work, Joshua!

Alyssa getting ready to go to work!

Joshua and Alyssa hanging ornaments...

Look at him go!

He's a natural!

Teaching Alyssa...

Alyssa, what do you think of the Grinch?
(Also, note that she is holding an orange and purple ball)

Beautiful decorating, Alyssa...

After all, we are putting a bunch of other balls in the tree...

You can walk away with your head held high after a job well-done!

Hanging a more traditional ornament...

Great work, buddy!

Lookin' good!

Christmas smiles!

Hard at work...

Joshua working on some finishing touches...

Just one more snowman, and I know the perfect place...

On this branch with five other ornaments that is dragging on the ground ;)

Perfect! Great job, guys!

Taking a Break from Decorating the Tree...

A little comic relief...

The doctor is in!

Those Christmas tree lights are bright!!

You got anything for us, funnyman?!

That's more like it... lookin' good!

She looks good in a hat!

Any doubts about her being a future all-star?

Lighting the Tree...

While the little helpers were napping, we set the tree up in the house. After nap everyone helped with the best part of a Christmas tree... putting the lights on!

So far so good...

Drum roll...

Ta da!!

I'm ready to help with the lights! Let's go, Dad!

It begins... shouldn't be too bad with all the help...

Hmmm... the help seems to be a bit distracted.
Trivia Question: What movie is distracting Joshua?

I knew I could count on you, Alyssa!

Christmas Lights 101: This is a string of lights...

Here's a little knot I'd like you to get out...

I probably should have started with something a little more appealing ;)

If you didn't get the movie trivia question on the first go-round, this should make it much easier...

Ready to turn on the lights!

Good work, everyone!!

Oh Christmas Tree! Oh Christmas Tree!

Now that we finally live in a house, we decided it was time for a real Christmas tree. So we loaded up the four-wheel drive sleigh and headed out to the Christmas Tree Farm to pick one out. Here are some photos from the experience...

Wandering off into the forest...