the christmas tree farm is pretty much the best place on earth right now. holland has been begging to go since a few days before thanksgiving. after much pleading, we agreed to go to the tree lot, literally half a block from our house, the night before thanksgiving. to appease our little christmas tree hound we let him pick out a tiny one for his room to decorate as he pleases. we really do try to give thanksgiving it's glory around here, so this was pretty big. though with thanksgiving over, we could wait no longer, and headed to the tree farm to get the real deal, which in fact, is our first "real" christmas tree as a family too. we've never really had space for a big one until this year, so you bet we got a big(ish) one. holland is so stinking excited about everything this year. i love it. last year was fun, but this year, i cannot wait for. we've walked the christmas aisles of target for weeks now, listening to whatever christmas cd they are sampling, sorting through ornaments and stocking stuffers, picking out a few decorations here and there, shaking every single snow globe (and maybe, finally bringing one home with us). we've begun searching for christmas lights on after dark drives. it's been so much fun and it is only decemeber 2nd.

anyhow, i figured i'd configure a list on why you should take holland to the christmas tree farm, because the lord knows we'll be back a few times at this rate. we may have the trees covered, but who can say no to wreaths, mistletoe and the hot cider they serve up?


2. he'll be your helper.


3. in between all the running, you'll get a sneak attack snuggle and maybe even a kiss (which are hard to come by most days).
4. candy canes. you bet he will find them, and he'll hand them out. so you'll get one too.
5. ear to ear grins that are contagious. how can you not smile at that face?
6. he talks to the baby trees.
7. and dances with the fake snowmen.



 

merry christmas from our family to yours! if you haven't got your tree, you probably should. ;)

thanksgiving this year was small. will had to work, so it was just the boys and i. holidays away from him are so bittersweet. he works so hard for us, and for that we are thankful, but we miss him even more on these days. the boys and i are lucky to have my parents just a few minutes away, and so for the day, we went there. i baked a chocolate pear cake,  and my mom knocked herself out and made the entire meal, inlcuding a tofurky (which only i eat). the day up until the meal was chaos. cake baking, potty training, i have a three month old who won't nap, and my washing machine just flooded the laundry room chaos, but it all settled down later. we were all tired and fighting colds, so low key was perfect. and there you have it, we set down for our meal, my parents, myself, my brother, and our two boys and gobbled it down in what seemed no longer than a few minutes.

but be it small and intimate or big and loud, it gave us time to sit together as a family, and be thankful for each other whether it was spoken or not. and a reason for left-overs to share with my husband as we recounted our days to each other late into the night.