Call us the Griswolds

We cut down our very first real Christmas tree this year, on a cold cold day in the snow. We are for realz. We could have cut one down two weeks ago when it was sunny and warm, but that's for sissies. We rode the train around until we found the kind we wanted. We went with Scottish Pine but I think we'll do something different next year. We were warned they shed the most and, indeed, they do.



Olivia won Most Well Behaved child of the day. She didn't make a peep, even in the cold, going to WalMart, picking up lights and a tree stand and a late lunch. Matt casually mentioned that he doesn't believe me that she spends most of her day with me crying (for me to hold her). Thanks Liv.



Hannah won Grumpy Pants child award. She was mad she had to get off the train. She was mad we made her walk and she may have been cold. Here she is wondering where the train went.



Still asking where the train went, and crying it wasn't coming any faster.



Tying the tree to the roof. While Matt was doing that (and I was helping after I documented it), Hannah got in the van and dumped out the orange soda all over the seats and herself. Note to self, strap Hannah in carseat if we can't pay attention to her.


All set up and decorated. My house smells amazing. You'll notice the vaccuum beside the tree. It's going to be there all season for the daily vaccuuming.

On the way home, Hannah was still her grumpy pants self and whenever she is like that, she loves being sung to. Isn't that sweet? Anyway, we started singing Christmas carols and I flashed to the Christmas Vacation Griswold family. Matt must have too because he said "Look kids, a deer." He's pretty funny.

Hannah loves the tree, she says hi to it a lot. She is into saying hi and bye to everything. "Hi dirty diapes, snow, chair, birdie, cookie, whatever." Kind of cracks me up.

Hannah also can count to 10! For a kid that doesn't watch much tv, I'm impressed. She counted the dogs today (three including her stuffed dog). She saw three runners on my shirt today and said "one boy, two boy, three boy." She always skips five, but who needs five?

Just wanted to say too, that I loved all the opinions from my last post. I wanted to clarify something just to make sure no one thought I was accusing anyone of anything. I don't mind if your kids believe in Santa, and I promise I'll do my best to let the kids know that they shouldn't break the news to your kids. We will definitely leave out cookies for Santa and probably see him at the mall. We just won't tell them he is real. This has been swirling around in my brain, not just because of the comments we had gotten about withholding Santa = withholding the magic of Christmas, but also because of this thing called Elf on the Shelf. I was told it is a great behavior modifier during this season. I have so many issues with that..... (feel free to offer your opinion about that too).
Anyway, thanks for sharing! I have another opinion question coming, I can't wait to hear what you think!