Our Christmas Tree 2011

We got our Christmas tree!

We went when we knew hardly anyone else would be there. Before we unloaded the car, I had the ‘boys, this is really important to mom. Please not too much crazy…please no fighting…please’ talk. It worked. Getting our Christmas tree is one of my favorite traditions. It just makes me happy. Part of the joy in traditions, for me, is to look back the previous years. Seeing the boys, and now my girl, grow over the years in these pictures is so bittersweet. On the one hand, I want to freeze time. I want them to never grow a day older. On the other hand, they do just keep getting more fun.

Littlest Brother asked me if he could go as a cowboy this year. Sure, just don’t pretend to shoot the wood Santa.

In my opinion, 2 out of 4 kids looking at the camera is a job well done.

2 out of 4 again….

He’s killing me in that floppy hat and stick horse. She’s killing me these days with her tight hugs. On a side note, does my cardigan remind anyone else of Mr.Rogers?

So let’s make the most of this beautiful day,

Since we’re together, we might as well say,

Would you be mine?

Could you be mine?

Won’t you be my neighbor?

One kid brought his own stick horse. The other three found sticks on the ground. My kids love to pose with sticks. I don’t get it, but I can work with it.

My oldest with a real saw and a toy gun…watch out people this is a tough crew.

It was an un-perfectly perfect trip to the tree farm. The kids drank cider, ate a candy cane and we loaded the van. As I rolled down the window to say thanks to the guys that loaded the tree, my window went wonky. A few weeks ago, it got busted by a kid on a playground with a great arm. It has been cold, so I haven’t used it since. Evidently, it didn’t get fixed right. So, I had to squeeze between car seats in the back for the drive home. But you know what, it wasn’t raining. It wasn’t frigid. We had a tree. I was a happy mom in the back of a swagger wagon with a wonky window.

From the archives…..

Even though the big boys are shooting the camera, I think this year’s family pic is my favorite one yet. I’m not sure why there was an open space in the middle. When I got home and saw the picture, it seems so very obvious that someone is missing. Next year…next year, Lord willing, that little gap will be full.