the most wonderful time of the year...

December started with a bang. It always does. On the 2nd we joined with friends to wander (though not too long in the colder than just cold weather that day) to find, and to gather our trees to adorn with lights and ornaments too many. 

Although the afternoon and evening until bed time was full to the brim accounted for, it doesn't matter the hour or level of sleepiness (not the kids!), a bare tree standing in the room beckoning to be decorated always wins. 

So, I lit the candles (that dripped wax all over the mantel come to discover later) and we dove in, full force! It was fun. It was special. It always kinda makes me laugh, this tradition of bringing a live tree into your house and covering (or caking on in our case due to a smaller tree this year) with 'stuff'. Some of it sentimental. Some of it funny. Some of it rather interesting or just plain ugly but special to 'someone', so we put it up. 

And we live life down here by the tree. And it really is rather beautiful. It's a fun tradition and just the way to kick off the celebration we anticipate at the end of the month. The birth of a King. Why not go all out for Him!? 

So we do...