And finally...

Our tree arrived on December 5th (yes, I mail-order our tree...I can find more amusing things than dragging five semi-willing kids through the snow/mud just for the "family tradition" - there is mushroom soup for that! LOL). We put the lights on December 12th (the vigil of St. Lucy, since we had a house full of running relatives on the actual day). Then, it just sat. It was beautiful with just the lights and smelled divine. I would have left it as-is but the kids can get so pesty.

We finally got around to the actual decorating on Saturday the 20th. We are not and never will be the "decorate everything on the 24th" people, sorry. I get the idea but with a birthday on the 22nd (more on that later) and my mother-in-law arriving...it's just not going to happen.

I digress. We had our fun afternoon of decorating and listening to carols, playing with the mangers and even completing our manger puppets (a kind gift from far away) to prepare for a play about the "Real Story of Christmas" (spoiler...there is no Santa), open for local release on December 24th.

If I don't make it back before Thursday, may you all have a safe and blessed Christmas!

We are blessed!