Our first REAL Christmas Tree!!

We are trying out a new tradition this year....a REAL live Christmas tree!! Last year my pre-lit tree bit the dust so we knew we were going to have to either invest in a new one or go for a REAL one!!

I wanted to go to the farm and pick one out but we decided to go for one from Lowe's this year to see if we even like it! The kids were PUMPED about it!! Max thought going to get a tree meant Santa was coming very soon. Ha!

We found a great one right away!!

Not too shabby for a $40 dollar tree!!

The kids LOVED watching the Lowe's guy give it a fresh trimming!!

Max and Emery were BIG helpers getting the tree and the stand out to the truck! Emery tried really hard to carry the stand all by herself. "I do it, Mommy!"....after struggling a little... "Mommy, help"  ;)

Daddy was pretty proud of using his "FORD" to bring home our tree ;)

The kids were so excited the entire way home. Max kept looking back and saying "I LOVE our Christmas tree!" and "I LOVE Christmas!" So so sweet! I can tell this year is going to be so much fun with the kiddos already!!

We picked out a Fraser Fir only because I liked the way it looked. I honestly had no idea how many different types of trees there were. LOL

Craig took it around to our backyard for safe keeping!

My dad had told us to wait about a week before putting it up so that it was sure to last through Christmas! Good thing he told us that because I would have been slightly upset come the week of Christmas and have a dead tree :(

Emery was quite PROUD of our tree too!!

The kids wanted to get out all the Christmas decorations but since I still had to put up our fall stuff, clean and go to work we settled on getting out all our Christmas books instead.

The kids spent a good hour reading to each other and looking through all the books while I put things away and cleaned!! I just LOVE that both of my kids love books so much!!

As for now we are VERY EXCITED about our new little tradition of picking out a tree. I will let you know after we put lights on it if I am still excited....LOL

Starting to decorate...

A few days after Thanksgiving and we were getting out the Christmas decorations!! Yay!!

Emery got out the stockings and said "Awww coot!!!" (aka cute)

What a face!! We got the decorations on the mantle up, stockings, and a few things around the house. We are waiting on the tree for a few more days so that it isn't dead by the time Christmas rolls around.

We got Max's tree out that we grabbed after Christmas last year! My brother got the boys a bunch of Dallas Cowboys Christmas ornaments so we just had to go and get a tree for them. Max LOVED the idea of putting it in his room!!

He was so giddy the entire time he was decorating it!! He just kept saying "I have a Dallas Cowboy's tree in my room!!!" So cute how he gets excited about even the little things!! 

All we need is a blue star for the top and of course some blue lights...we will be on a mission to find those things this week!

We turned the lights on the garland on the mantle. Max just sat in awe. He said it was beautiful!! I just LOVE this time of year but especially this year as the kids are so INTO Christmas!! It is so much FUN!!

Emery all LAID back with our little singing snow globe we got at Lowes last year! We had so much fun putting out a few of our decorations!! Can't wait to do the tree together!!

Randomness....a few pictures I just couldn't help to NOT post....Miss Em being all pouty!! Ha!!

Max's new obsession!! Football guys from Kaskey kids!! He LOVES going through plays and having the teams play each other. It is a riot to listen to him when he plays with them.

And little Ms Diva sporting her new shirt I made her!! She said "Take my picture mommy!!!" Love it!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I had to work Wed night so I came home and got a few hours of sleep while the kiddos and Craig went to my parents to have breakfast and watch the Macy's Day Parade!! They were getting their cooking on too! I joined them around 1pm to eat our first Thanksgiving meal of the day!!

Yummy Yummy!! My mom made a turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, dressing (northern and southern), relish tray, veggie tray, and rolls!

Emery led us in prayer!! Love hearing precious little prayers from her!! She has been singing the blessing "God our Father" for some time now!

After lunch we attempted a few family pics....the kids just weren't that into it...

no biggie...but I did snag one cute one of them together....

Football...football...football....

We left my Mom's and headed over to Craig's parents about 3. We had to be there in time for Cowboys kick off!! The girl cousins coloring together!! Em is in LOVE with her Laney and Linley!! Of course they love Em as well! So blessed she has some girl cousins here to play with!!

Sweet little Laney and Emery!!

Crazy Max and Sam stayed right in front of the T.V. watching the Dallas Cowboys play!! 

Dinner time was at half time!! Yummy Yummy!! Susie made turkey, dressing, pies, and rolls, LuLu made hash brown casserole, Nicole made sweet potatoes casserole, and I brought green beans. 

Then after dinner we got out our cookies we made to share!!

All the kids LOVED them!! They had a great time decorating them and of course EATING them!!

This was the quietest they were the entire night!! LOL

All in all a wonderful day spent with family!! So so blessed!! We had quite a few members of our (meaning mine) immediate family that couldn't be here which was sad...maybe one day soon we will ALL be together for a holiday!! I will continue to pray that it will happen soon!