It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

These pictures are actually from the beginning of December.  I'm trying to catch up . . .

Four years ago Bryan was deployed for Christmas.  I didn't want to "deal with" a real tree alone, so I  bought an artificial pre-lit tree . . . which we have used ever since.  This year Bry said it was time to go back to the old way, the REAL way, the good smelling way.  We both grew up in Michigan, the land of Christmas trees, and our families always had real trees. 

Let me tell you, cutting a Christmas tree in a dusty Texas field wasn't quite the same as the snowy Michigan treks for trees that I remember, but it's real, and it smells good!  And we made a sweet family memory with our new girl in tow, and that's what matters.

Let the search begin . . .

Brogan's pick . . . "Ummmm, no Brogie, a little too big".

Teddi and Taylor take a closer look at something a bit smaller  .  . .

Teddi's pick . . . a little more realistic than Brogie's.

The search continues . . . This is as close to a "One horse open sleigh as it gets!"  Thank you Brady for the ride . . . 

The girls split from the guys, in search of the perfect tree . . .

After a half hour of walking (in circles, in dust, and warmth that was too much for the clothes we had piled on in hopes of a cooler day) we found a tree that we could all agree on.  Sweet family memories being made here, remember .  . . A couple of times we had to remind ourselves to be sweet. . . six people  making one decision, whew.

Dad instructs Brady from the "How to Cut a Tree Perfectly" manual, written by Dad -- of course!

Timber  . . .

Good work Brady!  Teddi helps Baba load it up . . .

Here we go  . . .  time to pay for the tree, and buy a nice cold Coke for the trip home, hot and dusty.  Definitely not cocoa drinking weather.

What do you do when you are four, and Dad and Mom are taking too long to get the tree ready to decorate? 

If you are The Grinner, you make a large purple explanation point on a piece of paper, you hold it up, and do what you do best, you GRIN!  Point taken, Grinner!

Finally, it's time to decorate!  "This is how you do it, Ted."

Sweet girl hangs a special ladybug ornament with her name on it.  It was sent by one of our Zhuhai group friends last Christmas, and it adorned our tree while we were waiting.  What a joy to pull it out this year and see Teddi hang it up!  Thank you Karen!

The finished product, covered in memories.

Underneath the tree, the greatest gift of all baby Jesus, along with our special gift from God, Theadora Fu Xiao.  

Merry Christmas Teddi girl, we're so happy you're home!

Blessings from my thankful Christmas nest ~

Tina