'Tis the season...

We've had a busy busy time the last week or so. We've spent a lot of time decorating for Christmas. It takes a while for us b/c I have sooo much stuff! (I chose the word 'stuff', Brad would probably call it 'junk') This year it took exceptionally longer since the Christmas lights chose to not cooperate even moreso than the usual. We garage saled a bunch that didn't work last year so we had limited pickin's. We plugged them in, they worked, we put them on the tree (which in itself takes me an hour or longer b/c I am so anal about how they go on), and then they don't work. Grrrr! Even the brand new ones in a box?! What is up with that? Anyway, so then miraculously they started working again and on to decorating with ornaments and such. Then they don't work. Now they are working again. Sometimes they blink, sometimes they don't. At this point - I don't care. The tree is done and the lights work for the most part most of the time.

Brooke had fun going through all of her ornaments this year and reminiscing with me. She has a Keepsake ornament from each year since when I was pregnant with her and then has many others that other people have given her. This year she finally understands their significance. So fun.

I also have a village, or as Brad likes to call it, a metropolis. Yep - it's that big. He actually has had to build something for me to put it on. And after the many years of me collecting pieces, I am getting tired of doing it....just in time when the kids enjoy it so much. So, it goes up...takes a full day of work as well.

Then the outside decorations are another day or more in work. Especially when we have the same light problems we had with the inside lights. So off to Target to buy some new lights for the house and lots of tools out trying to get the deer and other stuff working.

Now, we're done. Except our garage looks like it's been ransacked. But the inside, (village, tree and more) and the outside are done! The lights and tedious-ness of it all is so frustrating and in the process doesn't seem worth it. But after it's all said and done, it is so nice to sit every night and enjoy it. One of the main reasons we start early is so we have plenty of time to enjoy it! Did I mention how much I love this time of year????? :D

Later I'll post some pics of the completed work, but for now, here's some pics from the work(s) in progress.

Putting the angel on top...

hanging ornaments..."discovering" her ornaments all over again...Up on the rooftop, click click click...Strategically placing the elves...I forgot to mention it's been colder occassionally here lately, so here are the girls in their cold weather attire while we were outside decorating. Man, we make some cute kids, huh?....
I forgot to mention that last night we did a gingerbread house. Just one of those pre-baked kits you buy. It was quite messy, but fun!

Also, wanted to post a fun story. The other day Brenna woke up from her nap and Brooke asked if she could go in and check on her so I said 'ok', knowing I could supervise by watching on the monitor. So I watched. She was just playing with her from the side of the crib, getting her toys and such. Then all of the sudden, she got her stool, climbed up, and flipped herself over into Brenna's crib. And there they sat and played together for well over an hour. I couldn't decide if that was sweet, funny, or dangerous. Brenna is awake in this picture, just looking over at one of the many toys Brooke had gotten for her. :-)

And some more pics from their playtime. They just play together all the time now. It's ridiculously sweet. Who knew that we wouldn't have to buy and store all these toys over the last three years? We just needed to have a baby!

Sorry for the picture heavy post, but I figure most readers enjoy looking at pics more than they like to listen to me babble on and on.