Our Tree

Each year we get a real Christmas tree...something about picking one out and having the fresh tree smell in our home just can't be beat. Some years we've had more Charlie Brown style ones, but this year it's a pretty symmetrical tree without any bald spots. Score! A little smaller than normal, but we also had a little less space to work with because of a new piece of furniture. One of these years when the girls get a little older, we'll make a tradition to go to a tree farm and cut our own. I have memories of doing this as a kid when we lived in the U.P., except we just walked out in the thick woods up there and chopped one down. Talk about old school. Until we do the tree farm one of these upcoming years, we'll stick with the Home Depot tree lot. Not quite as festive, but definitely still fun. 

We're excited to watch Ashlynn engage more with the Christmas season this year! She loved helping pick out and decorate the tree, and now notices all the Christmas lights when we drive around and loves playing with her little nativity set she got last year. It'll be a fun few weeks ahead with Christmas, New Year's and her second birthday!

While picking out our Christmas tree, Ashlynn also picked out one of the Home Depot red star display balloons. Thankfully there were some generous guys working and gave her one to take home. She's obsessed, to say the least.

A successful trip

"Riiiiiight...there!"

"Here you go, Daddy!" - our little helper, with some seriously crazy hair (that deserves a whole separate post)

Ashlynn strategically placed this ornament on Alese, claiming she needed to help

The banner I made at my friend Gina's Holiday Hangout. Her party was complete with a few craft stations while we also enjoyed wine! (well, to clarify, I created the gold design/pattern pieces out of washi tape and glitter, and strung the letters together...Gina did the rest, aka the hard work :)

One of many attempts to get a sister picture in front of the tree. I didn't include the whole series, just the ones where they both look content with the situation

"Yea, we're done!"