Enter The Tree

It's Christmastime! As you can see above, we've been downloading Christmas movies (the one my fellas are watching happens to be A Christmas Story - one of my faves). It's also time for the annual finding of the tree! We were disappointed to discover that the farm we usually visit to get our tree is closed during the week. Which was the only time Micah's schedule was un-hoarded by school/work. We really love this place as they have an adorable little tractor-pulled train that takes a scenic route up a mountain and drops you to find the perfect tree. It comes back when you're done and the tree gets loaded onto the caboose and everybody gets another ride down the mountain. Then, as they load your tree for you (major score here) the children are treated to hot coco and cookies. Total cost? $25.
Yeah. They rock.
But this year was almost as fun. We still got a ride on an ATV-pulled cart, and they also had cookies and cider. What was adorable, though, was the shop dog who accompanied us through the forest to the delight of my boys. We're dog-lovers and "McKenna" was a welcome addition to our adventure.

Find just the right one! GO!!
Found it!!



Then it was time to participate in another family tradition: discovering that the tree is, in fact, too big for the space in which it's supposed to fit. Then comes the chin-scratching and moving around of furniture until....it finally fits!

Yay!
So, the living room will stay this way for approximately 12 minutes. You know what kids say when you're caught staring? Well,
I DID take a picture.
So it would last longer.

Let's see. What else. Oh! The twins hatched just a bit earlier than I estimated:

and the boys are quite enjoying them, but once they're weened, their Daddy is going to gain his independence as there seems to be only one thing on his little mind ;)

Not a whole lot new, other than that. Christmas shopping is done. Levi's gifts are especially amusing as he's asked no fewer than 11 times for a princess. EVERY time we pass a Disney Princess item, he's just so impressed. He's so used to (and loves playing with) his brothers' Star Wars guys, I think he just loves the colors and sparkles in contrast to all the black and gray. So, anyway, I bought him Princess Jasmine and Snow White. They're the same size as their other action figures and each come with an extra gown and shoes.
Now, seeing as I'm in charge of the Christmas shopping (yes, that's the reason, isn't it?) I didn't see the need to tell Micah that I bought his son "girl toys". I mean, I didn't keep him apprised of all the other gifts, right? You know, I don't even think he wants to be bothered with every little detail. And, he'll probably be so distracted on Christmas morning that he won't notice, right? And, hey, even if he does, those Star Wars guys need girls to marry, right?
It's only fair!

And it's SO not a big deal.

...and so on.
So, yeah. We'll see how that goes over. If it makes any difference, I also got him the Play Dough set he thought was cool, and a Transformers reel for his View Master.
Well, if I don't get back on here before Christmas, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! Oh, and by the by, Zephan's adoption paperwork is still sitting at the courts waiting for the Adoption Ceremony which they haven't called to schedule yet. It doesn't look like we'll close by the end of the year. Which would have been really nice. But, oh well.
Take a lesson from Brier-Rabbit and stay cool.... until next time :)