A few weeks ago I asked Jake if he'd be ok going to cut a Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. My friend Diane said they did that last year and it was a lot of fun and I loved the idea. My wonderful husband, of course, agreed. As he went to do the morning trading at work this morning at 3:45am, the rest of us woke up at 6:30. We played, we got ready, Nathaniel napped and we left the minute Jake got home.

I had read that it wasn't raining in Half Moon Bay where the farm is but as it turned out, it was. Which is why this photo is as magnificent as it is. And this next one, too.



I'd read that the Grand Firs were the most pungent of all the trees and I wanted something that smelled a lot and would last the longest. So once we found our tree, Jake got to work. I tried to help but I am not sure I was useful at all.



Nathaniel watched pretty quietly most of the time.



And when he wasn't, his big brother was there to soothe him.



After we got the tree up and netted and tied, we rode the little train and listened to Christmas songs, we drank cider and even watched a super-short puppet show.

A bunch more hard work from Jake, a lot of trimming, a huge mess, and the tree is now in our house. I attempted to take a shot of it but trees and I, we don't seem to get a long. I will make another attempt tomorrow, I promise.

After all the kids went to bed, I dug into the December kit from AMM and already finished three layouts. I have a few more to make and David's school mini. I even made the 47th tag. Of course, I didn't finish my book yet and still have my writing homework to do and six more items on the todo list but I will get to them all in due time. And, of course, tomorrow....we decorate the tree!

Christmas season has officially begun and I couldn't be happier.