Deck The Halls

The stable from the manger scene.

A Santa who reads "Twas the Night Before Christmas" aloud (over and over and over again).

A mini snow globe.

What do these three things have in common? They are all Christmas decorations that have been broken by little hands so far this season. The sad part is our "season" only just begun 24 hours ago. We decorate our house the day after Thanksgiving. I'm thinking perhaps more than just our halls will require some "decking" this year......(just kidding....I wouldn't want Santa to switch me to the naughty list at the last minute).

David and I used to go to a Christmas Tree farm and chop down our own tree. Then we started having kids, and it just got to be too much to bundle them up and work around feeding schedules. We plan to revisit this tradition when the kids get a little older and can all walk around on their own and get excited about picking a Christmas tree for Daddy to chop down....and, yes, we'll continue on through their teenage years and try to ignore the eye rolling accompanied by the pleas of "Do we have to go help pick out the tree?". That will be a sad day. This year we piled the kids in the van sans coats because it was a crazy 65 degrees outside, went to Lowe's Hardware Store and found the perfect tree in 3 minutes flat.

It is so exciting to see Christmas through our childrens' eyes. It brings back that same magical feeling it once did when we were kids ourselves. Since Reese has no concept of time yet, now that all our decorations are up, I'm just sure she's going to wake up every morning from now until Dec. 25th asking, "Is this Christmas Day today?".

It really has been quite humorous listening to the new fights that have been occurring over our decorations and the admonitions that ensue:

"GIVE ME BACK MARY! I WAS PLAYING WITH HER FIRST!".

"GIRLS, WE DON'T THROW BABY JESUS ACROSS THE ROOM!!".

"DRUE, IF YOU TAKE ONE MORE ORNAMENT OFF THAT TREE......" stern parent walks swiftly towards her as she covers her little tushy pleading, "Don't 'pank my bottom."

"REESE, PICK THAT HOOK UP OFF THE FLOOR BEFORE TATE PUTS IT IN HIS MOUTH!"

I'm afraid there'll be no Peace on Earth or Goodwill Towards Men at the Hollaway house this season.....