We started this weekend off with our annual trip to Beaver Bark to see the reindeer, and Santa Claus.
The whole store was decorated beautifully, as usual!
The reindeer were as exciting as ever, and the kids enjoyed watching them graze around their pen.
The kids all sat on Santa's lap (after he finished a phone call he was on while we stood there and waited, thankyouverymuch.)and told him what they'd like this year for Christmas. Tayler said she'd like an ipod touch, Carson asked for a remote control Shell-razor (Ninja Turtle Van) and Elin asked for a "pink girl". I was really surprised at how brave Elin was. It was really sweet.
After the Santa Claus hub-bub, we headed over to Hallmark so the kids could choose their yearly ornaments.
Tayler recently read the first Hunger Games book, and decided on an ornament of the "Mockingjay". If you've read the book, you'll know what that is.:)
Of course Carson, keeping in the theme from Halloween, chose this:
Surprising, I know.
And Elin, in keeping with the theme from her birthday party decided on:
I need to snap a picture of the kids with their ornaments. They, of course, have been trying to play with them. But we've been explaining that while they look like toys, the actually are for decoration only.
Pure, torture.
On Saturday, Tayler had a hockey game. And while she was there, Elin, Carson and I went to my mom's neighbors house to pick out a Christmas tree. The neighbors son does the tree cutting, so we had to go at that time because that's when he'd be there. Brian and Tayler said they trusted us to pick a good tree.
That's where everything went wrong.
There's a back story though. We started getting trees from my mom's neighbor 3 years ago. See, they have a small tree farm that they allow friends and neighbors to choose trees from, and pay a very, very reasonable price. The first year we went, we chose a gorgeous, probably 10 ft beauty and that full, and beautiful.
Last year, another gorgeous, probably 10 foot tree. But, last year, when we got home, I noticed that the tree was CONSIDERABLY "skinnier" than the prior year. It was still a really lovely tree. I'd just wished it was a little fuller.
I'm guessing that must have been heavy on my subconscious.
 |
| Our tree. In it's natural habitat. |
This is what I saw. The trees are de-limbed (is that a word?) in the middle and the height (bare trunk, up) is marked on a colorful tag applied by the tree farm owners son. (that's him below the tree)
This tree stated it was 11' tall. Perfect. Our ceilings are 12'. And it looked nice and full. We were NOT going to have another anorexic tree like last year.
So, I told him to "load 'er up!"
Then we got this thing of beauty home, and pulled into the house.
And it was only then that we realized the true enormity of the situation.
It is a GIGANTIC tree.
So gigantic in fact, it broke our tree stand.
But, we went to the store and found one that would be more supportive of a tree this size.
And here she is, lit and trimmed.
It really is a thing of beauty.
And ENORMOUS thing of beauty.
And as you can see below, Carson & Elin are making sure all ornaments are in order. They've been verifying this nearly non stop since it was put up. :0/
I also did a fair amount of crafting this weekend. One of my favorite things to do. Here are a few shots of my projects.
And, to round the weekend out, we went to see a movie on Sunday evening. I don't normally LOVE animated movies, but this one is probably as close as I've come to loving one.
A really funny, sweet story. The kids loved it!
