Oh Christmas Tree

I am trying to get a few things done around the house before Ansley's impending arrival. That includes Christmas shopping, cooking a few extra meals to be frozen, and decorating as best as I can given that I can't climb on ladders or lift heavy boxes.  While Liam took his massive Black Friday nap, I rummaged around in the garage to pull out a few decorations and put them out.  When Liam woke up, Eric was home and we went out to the store to buy a few provisions: the makings for sugar cookies, egg nog, mulling spices for cider, etc.  After we ate yummy Thanksgiving leftovers, and started the cider mulling over a hot stove, we gave Liam a bath and then set to decorating. 

Last year, Liam was just a little too curious and destructive for us to put out many Christmas ornaments.  As a result, only the top portion of the tree got decorated and not even all the decorations came out.  It looked very Charlie Brownesque.  This year, he totally understood the concept of decorating the tree and looking but not touching the decorations after they went up.  Granted, he tended to put an average of five ornaments per branch, so after he went to bed we had to do a little "reorganizing."  We also watched holiday cartoons while we decorated, making for the start of fun holiday traditions.  I have always loved this time of year and it is really important to me that Liam associate Christmas with family and traditions. 

Cooper was not much "help" during the process.

Daddy giving a tutorial on how to hang the ornaments.

Liam insisted on hanging our delicate travel ornaments.  After that we stuck to the more indestructible ornaments.

He caught on surprisingly quickly.



My favorite picture of him this year.



Hot mulled cider ready for consumption!

Liam was quite taken with the cider.

Last year's "decorated" tree.  Note that there is nothing below 3 feet.

Last year my mom gave Liam a music box that plays Christmas music while ice skaters dance.  He was pretty obsessed with it.  This year was no different and he actually curled up in my lap to listen to the music and drink his cider while it played - this is a rarity among toddlers and especially toddler boys!

This year's completed tree!