the tree expedition

we decided to get our christmas tree on saturday, while phil's mom and brother were still with us.  we started off with grand plans and high hopes.

but remember what happened to us last year?  and the year before that?

which begs only one question.

WHEN are these tree lots going to realize that *some* of us like to get our christmas tree nice and early?!

hmm.  nope.  no internal reflection needed here about realizing that maybe perhaps we should just wait a week or so and save ourselves the angst of finding our lot of choice not open yet and also save an hour or so of driving aimlessly around hunting for an open tree lot stocked with ready to go trees. uh-uh.  that is not at all the conclusion one should draw after three years in a row with the same result.

[clearing throat].

so um, the tree lot with the cute little kids' train and mini boats and christmas tunes and general merriness abounding? 

closed.

but!  another tree lot down the street miraculously was stocked and OPEN and ready to go, much to mikey's great relief.  so we went there.

only to discover that they were charging double the amount.  double!  in this instance, maybe not so good to be an early bird.

so we got a quick picture.  then left.  much to mikey's chagrin. 

we decided to stop for a late lunch at in-n-out to regroup and bolster our spirits.  happily it worked.

some of us needed a nap for further bolstering.

happily, that worked too.

ah-ma decided it was too cold for the baby.

these babies decided it was too cold for them too.  (temps in the frigid low 70s, people).

and so where did we end up for the third year in a row?

yuuuuup.

the good news is that when you get your christmas tree while everyone else is still digesting their turkey, you are able to get quick and friendly help.

his favorite part of this whole process.  but look!  no line! (silver lining, however slim it may be).

in this instance, the help was definitely friendly.  but maybe not so quick.  and not really that helpful, actually.  but still, see that girl in the pink tutu and in-n-out hat and purple rapunzel flip-flops?  she dressed herself that day.  thank you.

it's actually nice to get it done early and not have to deal with the crowds.

plus, going early means you get two quick and friendly helpers to tie it to the top of your van.  not having to do it ourselves this year with four kids (im)patiently waiting in the car was pure awesomeness, plain and simple.

and then there was this once we got the tree inside.

before finally getting down to business.

hanging ornaments as high as she could reach.

he employed some creative techniques this year to ensure even distribution of ornaments on the tree.

see?

aww, how cute.  little brother is helping hang the ornaments!

if you thought that, you would be WRONG.

cuz little brother was actually taking ornaments off the tree as fast as the other three were trying to hang them on the tree.  i caught him plucking ornaments off and then chucking them back into the tree.

phil's bah humbug mood reappeared again this year.  and ucla's loss to stanford didn't help matters at all.

but he perked up for this part.

i think it was allie who arranged the nativity scene above the fireplace.  and little brother's been going there and messing it all up every chance he gets.  and it's been allie who patiently goes back and fixes it all up again every time.  love that girl.

merry early christmas from all of us to you!

the tree the next day.  before little brother struck yet again.


i am very fervently hoping that getting our christmas tree from home depot is not accidentally becoming a tradition for us.  the last three years notwithstanding.

thanksgiving

we had a week to build up to the big day.

on monday, the boys and i went to lauren's preschool thanksgiving party.

my two handsome dates.

thankfully, it was assigned seating.

then her class came in and lined up.

and did a short thanksgiving-y song ("five little turkeys sitting on a fence...") and memory verse ("first thessalonians five eighteen, in everything give thanks, give thanks") that lasted all of two minutes.  i love preschool programs.

there's our girl!

a little pre-soup affection.

each of the classes prepare a stone soup based on the book and we get to enjoy it together.  and enjoy it they did.  mikey had himself two servings.  and now with lauren in this school, i've had the privilege of trying each of the four classes' versions of the soup.  good times.

lauren and her beloved teacher, miss c.

mikey didn't want to throw his soup away when it was time to clean up.  so he took it with him and shared it (his idea, not mine) curb-side before we headed home.  one bite for you...

one bite for you...

and one bite for me!  (bites may or may not have been evenly distributed).


then on wednesday, lauren and i went to help out at allie's class party.  (the boys stayed home with our babysitter).

allie and her beloved teacher, miss c.

allie specially requested her little sister to come since she'd never seen her big sis' class before.

it was her lucky day too as they had extras of everything so she got to be just like the big kids and do everything they did.

this is allie's best school friend, l.  i am so, so thankful for such a sweet friend for my girl.  i've been praying for good, true friends to surround her and hope that their friendship will continue to grow and remain steadfast through the years.  between the sisters as well as the friends they make at church and at school.

the party finished off with a viewing of charlie brown's thanksgiving.

remember how much fun it was to watch a movie in class?  somehow it's always way better than watching it at home, even though it's the same movie.  the exact same movie in fact, since allie brought the video in to share with her class.

then it was time for the main event!  (my best turkey yet, if i do say so myself!)

one little eater was seated and ready to get this show on the road.  er, make that two little eaters...

bustin a little gangnam-style before getting down to business.

thankful to have ah-ma and uncle richard join us this year.

my girls.

mikey requested a leg as he does every year.

but also shared it with his brother.  a passing of the torch leg, if you will.

looks like we've got another leg fan in the making!


hope your thanksgiving day was a great time with loved ones, full tummies, and grateful hearts!

let's go bruins!

this past saturday was a very good day to be a bruin fan.  an exciting football game and a very satisfying win that's been a long time coming.  we had a few friends over to watch the game with us which made it all the more fun.  so much so that i didn't even take a single picture the whole time!  aw well, maybe next time.

to celebrate, this is how the fam bam dressed for church on sunday.

oh how i love this shirt. ok, and the boy in it.

so while i don't have any pictures from this past saturday, i DO have some from a game we watched a couple months ago.  it's pretty much the same idea, except with more people.  :)

phil is very serious about having a good spread from which to graze during the game.  there's always enough to feed a small army.

breaking in our new, old seating.

u-c-l-a fight fight fight!

phil was very thorough in decorating his man cave soon after we moved in to the house.  in fact, it's the only room in the whole house that is completely pulled together.  he tells me there is no budget left to do anything else anywhere in the house.  hmph.

she was camped out directly under all the food for the easiest access.

this is how we roll, folks.  see the big sister catching a nap under the table?

the perfect space in which to cheer on our favorite team.

go bruins!