These halls aren't going to deck themselves...

That's what I discovered last year halfway into December. When I was growing up the day after Thanksgiving was "D Day!" (D for decorations.) As we got older it grew into a two to three day process because my mom loved to decorate any surface that didn't move. So this year we decided to adopt that tradition of decorating on Black Friday. And the only way this worked was my kind in-laws came over last Wednesday and helped me clean my house and pull out and set up the tree. (Thanks again Terrie, Tracie and Brooke!)

Daddy and the kids checking the lights, obviously a three year old is a must for a job like this...


After I took this picture Jake said, "Hey Mom! Did you see what I did? I posed like Pa Dave always does in pictures!"


Evie discovered that when the TV is off it makes an excellent mirror! She spent several minutes posing with the lights and talking to her reflection.


Jake is not happy that the lights have to go on before the ornaments. Mostly he isn't happy that he is the only who fits under the tree at this point.


It only took about 5 minutes for Brian and I to realize that between the two of us one couldn't reach the top because of height, and one couldn't reach the top without taking out the tree and probably one of the kids as well. So we called in the cavalry, his parents and my sister and her husband. Jim and Brian were able to get the lights on in 20 minutes. If it had been just Brian and I it would have taken a couple of hours. Then came another 20 minutes or so of, "No you can't put all the gingerbread men together." and "You guys we have to put some ornaments on the top half of the tree." and "Stop touching and dumping everything out of the boxes!" But in spite of the children's help it turned out not half-bad.

My homespun Christmas tree that is a mix of country and Victorian style, with a smattering of precious keepsakes made by my kids.


And our stockings are hung by the chimney with care...


...except for Lila's which I realized tonight that I made it backwards! Again! it is a crazy quilt style like Evie's, and this is the second time that I have pieced it and then realized that it will hang the opposite direction. I am beyond frustrated because I have already embroidered half of the front of hers. grrr.... Guess I will just try to focus on the pleasant feeling at all that has been accomplished this week.