Starting Christmas

We broke from tradition a bit this year and decided to decorate our house after we got home from celebrating Thanksgiving with our families. We usually do it before we leave for Thanksgiving, but life has been a bit unpredictable lately so we just didn't get it done.

So, on Saturday night, we put on "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" and got to work.

Marie took a big interest in decorating the tree this year. She even insisted on wearing either her swimsuit or her Halloween costume for the occasion...we settled on the costume.

We let Marie place most of the ornaments on the tree - leaving them just where she placed them. It may not be our most symmetrical tree we have ever decorated, but it is the most memorable now.

I was really excited to get our tree skirt out this year. At the end of Christmas last year, I purchased an inexpensive red felt tree skirt and some paint. All of us, including Charlie, put our hand prints on the tree skirt to decorate. Now, with each addition, we will add a new hand print. It turned out great and it makes our tree seem so much more special this year.


Marie also got to help Andy put up some lights outside. It was pretty cold so she wasn't as into it as expected, but she loves looking at all the lights!