A Month of Christmas: O Christmas Tree

"O Christmas Tree"

Right when we returned home from Colorado, Isaac and I set up this little tree in the playroom upstairs.  Even though it was daylight when we finished, Isaac wanted me to turn off all the lights in the house so that we could see the tree lit up by itself.  I turned off the last light, and Isaac said, "Mommy, it's so beautiful!"  

I love seeing Christmas through his eyes!

On Friday evening, we decorated our "big tree," which is how Isaac refers to it.  One of my favorite traditions from growing up was receiving a new ornament each year from my parents.  Often, the ornament had something to do with an activity we'd done or vacation we'd taken year.  When David and I were married, my mom boxed them all up and gave them to us as a gift.  Giving an ornament each year is a tradition we have continued in our family. This year, Isaac's ornament was a cowboy since "playing horsies" is his favorite thing to do after riding a horse in Colorado. :)  Isaac loves his new ornament and would much rather play with it than hang it on the tree.  (Emma's first ornament is still in progress!)  

Our Christmas Tree~2012

 Earlier that day, Isaac and I had made candy-cane dipped marshmallows to put in our hot chocolate (idea from this pin).  

I'm pretty sure his favorite part--besides eating them--was crushing the candy canes with our meat tenderizer.  :)

After we decorated the tree, we watched "The Very First Noel" and drank our hot chocolate. 

My friend Meghan shared that this is her family's tradition each year after decorating the tree...and I think we've made it our new tradition, too!

Emma was taking her evening nap while all this was happening, but I managed to get a few pictures of her with the tree yesterday.  :)

My mom bought this sweet outfit last year when we were planning on adopting another baby girl...I just love that Emma can now wear this it.  (And, while I'm blogging about our Christmas tree, I have to share this tutorial that helped me make Emma's little Christmas tree bow.  If I can make it, anybody can!)  

I'm pretty sure my days are numbered when it comes to Emma sitting sweetly for picture after picture...because she'd much rather be moving now!