Christmas Festivities

We've had fun starting out the Christmas season with many of the traditional Christmas festivities. We got our Christmas tree, although our "cheap family" tradition of buying them at Marvins (home of the $16.99 tree, any size) was nixed when we pulled up in Pelham only to find out that they had moved out to Calera. A little too far for us to drive (Bennett was already asleep just getting to Pelham), so we opted for Home Depot just down the road and for a mere $10 more got one of our most beautiful trees so far. Our other family tradition, which is so typical, is to remember to bring the camera but forget to take it in for the traditional tree lot pics. So we always get a picture once the tree is on top of the car. This year I was a little more on the ball in that I remembered before the kids were buckled in their carseats.

The next night we decorated the tree. It was really fun. Shane got the kids all ready for bed (in their matching Christmas pajamas - what is cuter?!) while I hung the lights on the tree. Then I had a pile of unbreakable & homemade ornaments for Bennett & Noah to hang. Noah as you can see was otherwise occupied but Bennett really enjoyed it. He carefully hung each ornament. I tried to get a picture of his "favorite branch" as I call it, the one hanging almost to the ground because it has about 7 ornaments on it, but couldn't capture it well. You get the idea - most of the bottom is empty except for this one area where he went wild. It's great though because now all the ones in their reach are ones I don't mind them playing with. Noah's favorites are the jingle bells which he calls "ball" and then launches them across the room. Which is fine, they're unbreakable as far as I can tell. What fun Christmas is this year!

This morning at 8am we bundled up well and went to the Vestavia Christmas Parade. We met our friends Paul & Catherine and their boys Andrew & James and Todd and his son Will (Rachel & Reese were at home as Reese is a little young for that cold of a day) and all watched the parade together. I've never seen so much candy in my life. It was Halloween times 10 for us. Bennett's bag was so full he told me he had to use all 7 of his muscles to carry it! (he has a thing about having 7 muscles so he's so strong). There was a stretch limo Hummer which is one of his favorites, lots of bands & cheerleaders and of course Santa on a fire truck at the end. What fun for a 3 year old! Noah was so bundled and mittened that he could hardly move, and hardly did the whole time. And yet he got some candy of his own as well. I think it was a fun time for all and we'll definitely try to do it again next year!