Trimming the Tree

We got our Christmas tree up on Thanksgiving weekend this year... not just erected, but actually decorated as well.  This is the first year that the kids have really been able to participate in most of the ornament hanging - although I still keep a cluster of ornaments that are for Andy and I only.  Charlie can reach a little more than half of the tree now, that boy is growing up too quickly!

Before we started putting any ornaments on, Ephram grabbed a candy cane off of the table and ran to the tree.  I figured why not and let both him and Charlie put one on.  So they were the first decorations this year.

One of our traditions is to go to Hallmark at the beginning of the season and let the kids pick out a new ornament for the year.  We also had a new ornament from our Disneyland trip.  Ephram and Charlie were very excited to hang up the ornaments that they had just selected.

We let Ephram put the first ornament on this year.  He actually had two to chose from - the number 2 that I bought to commemorate his second Christmas, or the one he chose... Mickey Mouse wearing a spacesuit.  He chose the number 2, and then had a great time figuring out how to get it to stick to the tree.

Then it was Charlie's turn.  Every year he has selected a Snoopy ornament.  He chose another one this year.  He isn't as much into Charlie Brown as he once was, but it is apparently his Christmas thing.

I also got one picture of Andy helping Ephram hang up his Mickey ornament... which we put up higher as it is a little delicate.

I failed to take a picture of the finished tree that day - so unfortunately I do not have that to share!  Stay tuned for our Christmas Eve blog post, which will include a picture of the tree loaded with presents.