Decking Our Halls

Until we start decorating each year, I forget just how much excitement it creates in the house. As I unpacked boxes of decorations at the end of November and piled them everywhere, Preston was oohing and ahhing at everything, saying how beautiful it all was. (Until he exuded all that excitement, all I was seeing was a mess and a project to tackle!). Just like Preston, Miss Gracie gets so excited when she sees the lights on the tree, the lights outside and all things related to this festive time of year. It makes the project so worthwhile to see the joy in their faces... and once we're done, John and I both love it, too! There really is nothing like the warm glow that the lights and glistening decorations create in our home.

This year was extra special because Gracie was so involved in decorating the tree. Yes, she did her typical rounds underneath the tree, excitedly signing, "color" "lights" "tree," all of which makes us so happy, knowing that she remembers what we do every year. We never imagined, though, how completely involved she'd be in decorating the tree! It was so fun to see her choosing ornaments to hang, hanging them and delighting in her accomplishment.

Here are (so many!) pictures of our time decking the halls...

On November 27th, the kids awoke to "The Elf on the Shelf" sitting on our entertainment center along with the book.

Named by Preston (despite my efforts to encourage a more creative name!), "Elfie's" adventures in our home will be chronicled later!

On November 29th, Preston helped John put up the lights on the house.

Finally, on December 1st, I finished decorating the house and, that evening, we decorated our tree.

It's finally time for the angel... Preston was so excited!

John held him up, over and over, but Preston was so nervous (Daddy definitely had him... he wasn't going to fall!), that he couldn't get the angel up on the tree. 

What transpired next was a massive meltdown from Preston about not liking our tree, being mad that John put the angel on (after four very long attempts at holding him up over his head!) and stomping off, screaming, to his room for a timeout.  Oh the joys of the season!  So much excitement... and a little out of control.

He yelled from his room for about ten minutes... because there was no reasoning with him, we just ignored him! John said, "He's going to fall asleep."  To which I replied, "No way... he's still screaming!"  No sooner did I say that, there was a pause in the rants from our four and a half year-old and when I peeked in his door, this is what I found. While it was sort of a sad way to end a wonderful evening, it was also kind of funny... and I'd be lying if I said John and I weren't both relieved that he gave in to his exhaustion. ;)

Thankfully, he was back to himself by morning and he does, indeed, love our tree!

O Christmas Tree!

On December 3rd, Gracie "undecorating" the tree!

On December 4th, Gracie climbed up onto the couch to look out the window and see the lights outside... all by herself!

Next on our agenda... a visit to Santa and a special request for him to come on the 26th since Daddy works the 22nd through the 25th.  Hopefully, no matter how tired they are, Santa, his reindeer and his elves can make that happen for us!