Our Christmas Tree, 2010 Edition

A couple Mondays ago we made our yearly trek to Home Depot to get our Christmas tree. It was just our luck that a wonderful Alberta Clipper descended upon us that weekend so it was bitter, bitter cold. The goal was get in, get it and get out fast. Well, we accomplished our goal in record time. I decided that I was not going to be overly picky this year-I wanted to get back home and get in my warm pjs and under covers.

The selection wasn't huge, so that helped a lot. We found one that met our standards and went to put it on the car. Our fingers were ice, and we couldn't find any string long enough, so much to Jordan's chagrin, we put it IN our van.

Yes, you read that right-we folded down one of the captain's chairs and shoved it in. Well, I should say Darin shoved it in because I was looking for string and by the time I got back to the car, he had it in. It was an interesting ride home. The boys thought it was great, Jordan wasn't too happy.

It took a few tries to get it on the stand the way we wanted and it required some additional trimming. It's a funky tree, but we love it:)

Landon checking out an ornament.
Jordan and Spencer were so excited to decorate the tree. But I made one bad decision. We had been watching a Christmas movie, so we kept the TV on, and they ended up being more interested in that than helping decorate the tree. Well, Spencer liked to play with the ornaments instead of putting them on the tree.

On a side note, they have been introduced to some Christmas classics this year. Elf, (a HUGE hit) Home Alone (took a while to get going, but once the action started there was lots of laughing. Beware of a couple swear words in this one that I forgot about! Luckily Jordan asked what a "jerk" was instead of picking up the alternate word for a donkey:) Frost, etc. They like to see what is on ABC Family each night because they have a family Christmas movie every night.
We got out some candy canes and they were a huge hit. We let the kids put them where ever they wanted. I looked a bit later and found this grouping. So cute.
For the last few years, I have told Darin that I would love a White House Ornament. Well, he listened and sure delivered!! He brought me home the 2009 one, then he got one for every year since we were married and had the kids give them to me each night leading up to Christmas. IT was so awesome-I felt so loved. They are really beautiful ornaments and are on the top third of the tree!
Another White House favorite.





Here's another favorite. It is a Waterford Crystal ornament from our honeymoon in Ireland.
I love this one from Auntie Marion and Auntie Karin. I always say I want to stop at one of the kiosks in the mall for a family one, but I never do. I was so excited to get this last year:)




All done!
And the Christmas Village is up! It's Santa's village. I was so excited when Darin and I were newlyweds and he told me he had a Christmas village that he hadn't ever put up. I look forward to it every year.
I love having the tree up. It is so festive and reminds me every day why we celebrate Christmas. It looks different every day-Spencer and Landon I think are worse than a toddler as far as playing with the ornaments. They won't leave them alone! There's a pile under the tree with hooks missing,etc. I gave up putting them back on. Ah well, it's still beautiful!!