It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Why does it take SOOOOO long to decorate the house for Christmas?  It just seems to go on for days and days!  We started after our trip to Lehi for Thanksgiving.  We debated as to whether or not we should put up the 'Christmas in the City' Village.  Since Ed is the one who does most of the work - I leave the decision to him - my only comment - "Why did we buy it if we don't put it out?" - no pressure.  Ed decided that Kiyoko was big enough to 'look and not touch' (sure she is...) this year and he spent several days making mountains and arranging the houses.  It looks great this year - as always! 

We waited to decorate the tree when the children were going to be with us.  It is much more fun watching their reaction as they open up each ornament and decide where to hang it on the tree.  I occasionally had to remind them the tree has MANY sides - all the ornaments were 'hung' on just one side!  The children each got a new ornament this year.  Brennan got a motocycle - Sariah a dancing ballerina - and Screech got a monkey hanging by the tail with a GRANDDAUGHTER banner.  They were all wrapped  up and they were fun to watch them open them.  They can tell you which ornaments are theirs and when they received them.

My nativity, the one I hand painted but never finished the 'Third' wiseman, was put in the opening where the TV used to be...Ed added an overhead light and placed small lights around the scene.  I don't want the kids to think that there are only two wisemen so they also have the Playschool Nativity set that they can rearrange and play with.

The living room is very crowded...I have visions of the house buldging at the seams - ready to explode.  We are going to have to do some serious housecleaning and get rid of a lot of STUFF after the holidays.  This year we put up a small tree in the family room and perhaps Santa will leave his gifts there this year because it is right by the fireplace.  We can open presents in both the living room and family room...just spread the mess around.

Patrick, Shyla, Diesel and Cali will be arriving Wednesday, December 23, late in the evening.  They are leaving SLC about 4:30pm and driving straight through.  We are all eagerly waiting their arrival.  Murphy is especially excited to see his two cousins - Diesel and Cali.  He hopes they notice his new 'Candy Cane' collar because it is pretty cute!