Tree Tradition Take 1

Happy Thanksgiving!
We love you and thank God for you and the blessing you are on in our lives!

(Sorry there are no pictures from thanksgiving - we were too busy gorging ourselves in feast upon feast!)

But... now it's Christmas. I love Christmas. There will be pictures of the next month - you can be sure of that!!!

We've been wanting to create some sort of family tradition around the getting-of-the-tree. I love traditions. It didn't matter to me if it meant always watching the same movie while we decorate or getting donuts on the way to the farm or whatever. My openness to the options for traditions lead to great indecisiveness.

Then we heard about Bosch Tree Farm in Allendale. Clydesdale horse drawn sliegh rides, hot chocolate, popcorn balls. We're in!!

Nevermind that Ben has spent the last 48 hours overtired and sleep deprived.
Nevermind that it's raining and muddy and there aren't any horses today.
Nevermind that we're in church clothes and we won't have time to trim the tree today.

A tradition is born.

Somebody wake the baby and tell him.



Imagine this with snow.




Looks like he's done this before, eh?

14 months of changing diapers and THIS makes him look like a daddy to me.


This is just after Keith asked "Are my eyes bulging?!" They were. Seems handstands aren't the ideal posture for tree cutting. Don't be surprised if Keith brings his chain saw next year.




Ben loved the chicks, but couldn't make up his mind how close they should get to him. He whined for them to get closer, then whined that they were too close. (Note: overtired Ben = whiny Ben)


And he never offered to touch them with more than just that one little pointer finger.


Yep, that stand should work out just fine. Glad I checked.


See ya, folks- I've got halls to deck!
Fa la la la la!