Tree wishes

I was up so late hanging out with Jim, Jackie, and Zoe and Dave, Ellen, Chloe, and Ian, that I never did get to blog last night. We had a house party! The Carons came down and joined us at the Clanton Christmas parade (where Dennis came home with more candy than he did at Halloween), and then we headed home. The Gallmans came by soon after we arrived at our place, and we chatted and watched the baby and then played the board game Battle of the Sexes while Dennis and Chloe and Zoe played all over the rest of the house. Anytime you have a trio of 4-year-olds running amok in the house, things can get a bit wild, but they more mostly well behaved. Dennis watched the girl antics for a while, but we later found him vegged out on the den couch watching TV while the girls were playing kitchen and restaurant in his room. This was such a play on adult roles that I had to laugh. The Gallmans spent the night with us, and the Carons left after midnight, and much fun was had by all!

BEFORE we had the house party and BEFORE we went to the parade (and one day I'll learn to think more chronologically while I'm writing), we made a trip to Neely Choose and Cut Christmas Tree Farm, our third consecutive year to do so. We chose a lovely pine that David and Dennis sawed down, and it was shaken, wrapped, loaded up, driven home, and put in its stand with water within 45 minutes of it being cut down. We even had time to have hot cocoa and socialize a bit at the tree farm.

The Christmas parade was a big hit--we did our tradition of parking at Gran's and walking over a couple of blocks to see it. She had ordered pizza for us all to share, and the kids loved the parade. We had seen all of it and walked back before a half hour had passed. I have officially decided that I really do love small town life, all these special things we can do so close to home, seeing so many people we know all around. And the 7 minute commute to my job, well, that can't be beat!

We decorated our tree tonight. Dennis was beside himself with excitement, helping with the lights and garland, eagerly grabbing up the most fragile of ornaments and running to the tree with them. Nothing has yet broken (though Lemonade has not yet discovered the tree), thank goodness, and all our ornaments are up. As we were hanging the first of the things on the tree, Dennis would periodically dance and exclaim "it's just looking so beautiful!" and "I'm so glad we decided to pick out a Christmas tree!" (as if we wouldn't?). He lost interest before everything was up, but he was happy to admire the finished product. And even happier to have his Daddy lift him up high to put the star on top.

Speaking of stars, he spied one outside and asked us if he could make a wish. He wished for "a tree that grows lots of toys". That sure would come in handy around Christmas and birthday events...

Neely the Elf stole a bunch of my socks and bound them all together with twist ties to make a swing to hang from our living room ceiling fan last night. Dennis and Chloe found him happily swinging on it, and he'd apparently decorated our bare Christmas tree with the extra socks that he didn't use. I'm sure he'll be relieved that we've now decorated the tree. Who knows what 'elfcapade' we're in for next?