December, D.Fir+Carrie

Today is December First. The official start of the Christmas season. I love Christmas. I love the smell of trees, the lights, the cold weather, the candles, the celebrations, the birth of Jesus.

The day after Thanksgiving marks the first day of decorating for me and my family. It always has, always will. We don't cheat Thanksgiving around here like all these big name stores that bust out their holiday decor in August. No way Jose. A shout out to Nordstrom for waiting to put their Christmas decor up until the Black Friday as well. They had a sign and everything about respecting Thanksgiving. Wish I had a photo of it. Kudos Nordies!

So on Black Friday, while the rest of the world was recovering from shopping with the masses at insane hours, Blane and I were at Home Depot, picking out our first Christmas tree. We went prepared, with gloves and knife in hand, because we have learned from past experience that if one does not have these tools, then the buying-the-tree business is a lot more difficult than it needs to be. 

I love my husband. One of the reasons is because he goes along with what is important to me. No, we didn't buy the first tree that he opened for me; nor did we buy the second, or the third. I know it's not the most fun thing he's ever done, and it gets monotonous, but he lets me do my tree thing and continually opens tree after tree, shaking them down until we find "the one." 

This year's tree is a winner! We always go with a Douglas Fir (because anyone who really knows tree decorating knows that the firs are the best for hanging lights and ornaments) because that's what J and I always grew up getting. It's not Christmas without a D. Fir!

Meliss and J were on hand as we brought her home, made a space in our living room and figured out the exact tilt that she needed to be in the tree stand. Important matters at hand-we take tree setting up seriously.

Our tree has affectionately been named "Carrie" by Blane. And yes, he named her after Carrie Underwood. I don't know what to tell you-at least he took an interest in our tree right? :D

1500 lights (Yes, you read that right-we have over one thousand lights on this baby and she's only 6-7' tall. The general rule is 100 lights per foot so technically we only needed to put 700 lights on the tree but by the time I finished putting the lights on we had double that number-it looks ah-maz-ing!!!), one $5 garland (also from Home Depot-steal!), a handful of candles, our stockings and some ornaments later Christmas had officially come to our house. :)

I am beyond excited to celebrate my favorite season with my new husband in our new home. I feel so blessed! As we all enter December today, I hope that we all will think to spread some Christmas cheer~and some Christ!~with those we encounter this season.

Merry Christmas!

Aim

P.S. Again, my apologies on the lack of pics in this post. This time my blackberry has failed me and it has somehow stopped e-mailing my pics even though it says that they have gone through :(
Come over and see the tree in person instead!