…Happiness and cheer,
Fun for all
That children call
Their favorite time of year…
It’s beginning to look a bit more like Christmas round these parts:
![IMG_20151208_193915[1] I do so love this wreath. :)](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_20151208_1939151.jpg?w=392&h=392&crop=1&ssl=1)
![20151212_112414[1] I love all the musical ornaments.](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151212_1124141.jpg?w=220&h=392&ssl=1)
![20151206_143922[1] Cricket adores his new train set.](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151206_1439221.jpg?w=258&h=145&ssl=1)
![20151213_012631[1] Looks like Donner's lying down on the job... :)](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151213_0126311.jpg?w=258&h=145&ssl=1)
![20151213_012729[1] Advent calendar, take two. This is the one I grew up doing with my parents, and now I'm sharing it with my kids. :)](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151213_0127291.jpg?w=165&h=294&ssl=1)
![IMG_20151208_192317[1] Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how lovely are thy branches!](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_20151208_1923171.jpg?w=185&h=186&ssl=1)
![20151210_185336[1] Time to sing about ugly Christmas sweaters!](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151210_1853361.jpg?w=185&h=104&ssl=1)
![20151213_012624[1] If you look closely to the left of the moose, you'll see a little reindeer mailing a letter to Santa...](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151213_0126241.jpg?w=306&h=545&ssl=1)
![20151213_002307[1] Finally got our tree up!](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151213_0023071.jpg?w=306&h=545&ssl=1)
![20151206_141012[1] Someone said she was NOT going to sit on Santa's lap. Guess how well that worked out. :)](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151206_1410121.jpg?w=335&h=189&ssl=1)
![IMG_20151208_194305[1] The courthouse is always pretty, but it's even prettier at Christmas.](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_20151208_1943051.jpg?w=277&h=189&ssl=1)
![20151213_012721[1] Nativity central.](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151213_0127211.jpg?w=277&h=156&ssl=1)
![20151213_012653[1] What would the North Pole be without Santa Claus and snowmen?](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151213_0126531.jpg?w=277&h=155&ssl=1)
![IMG_20151210_200135[1] Every auditorium should have a tuba tree with an eighth note on top. ;)](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/img_20151210_2001351.jpg?w=277&h=277&crop=1&ssl=1)
![20151203_110758[1] A pretty tree for a pretty courthouse. :)](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151203_1107581.jpg?w=335&h=596&ssl=1)
![20151206_142631[1] "Santa, you're kinda scary, but you gave me a dolly, so I don't know what to think now."](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151206_1426311.jpg?w=306&h=172&ssl=1)
![20151213_012743[1] Cricket wanted to put all the decorations on the piano. :)](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151213_0127431.jpg?w=306&h=172&ssl=1)
![20151206_140520[1] One happy Thumper bunny. :)](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151206_14052011.jpg?w=263&h=148&ssl=1)
![20151213_012758[1] Best. Jingle bell. Ever.](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151213_0127581.jpg?w=83&h=148&ssl=1)
![20151213_012847[1] Mistletoe anyone?](https://i0.wp.com/suddenlytheyalldied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151213_0128471.jpg?w=262&h=148&ssl=1)
But it’s been warmish and rainy here the last two days. Last night while we were decorating our tree, we had a thunderstorm. That made it feel rather more like Christmas in July.
The kids had their annual 4-H cookie walk yesterday morning and then went Christmas shopping at a local church. We listened to Christmas music all day, decorated last night, and watched Home Alone 2 after the boys went to bed. It was a little bittersweet, though – we always decorate as a family, and this year Seymour wasn’t home to help out. Miss Tadpole took it pretty hard, and I agree – it’s just not the same without him.
Still, I’m feeling pretty cheery after all that Christmasy fun yesterday, and I’m looking forward to working on Christmas cards this afternoon. 🙂
Have you decorated yet? Do you go all out, or do you keep it to a few treasured things? What kind of Christmas traditions do you have in your family?
(c) 2015. All rights reserved.