Christmas Decorations with a Real Tree

I traditionally decorate for Christmas on the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. Although, last year I started even earlier. We got out our old fake Christmas tree that consists of two pieces that you pop together. I set it up and started trying to straighten the fake wire stems and make it look somewhat presentable. Mind you I paid like 10 bucks at a Target clearance sell 12 or more years ago - so it was looking pretty bad. I call it the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. But like the Charlie Brown Christmas tree, once you decorate it, it doesn't look half bad - after all it's the one we used last year. My husband is observing my activities and says, "Do you want to go get a real one?"

So off we went to get a real tree. We ended up buying a 5-6 ft Frasure Fir from Home Depot for $25. I thought that was pretty reasonable. Jonah helped put the ornaments on the tree. Elisabeth likes to take them off!

Thanksgiving Day at Home

Despite the fact we had just experienced a very full month, I found the thought of cooking a big Thanksgiving meal for the just the four of us a bit depressing. I have realized recently that I really enjoy setting a table and sitting down with friends and family at a dinner table. There is something divine in the act of eating and communing together. So, we invited some friends over to join us who are also with out family in the area. Zeynep and Serdar graciously accepted our invitation and hung out for the better part of the afternoon. Jonah and Serra had a great time playing together.

A Trip to Tennessee

The last 6 weeks have been very busy - thus the lack of posts. My husband got back from an overseas trip and was sick for two weeks during which time we also went on a trip to Tennessee to meet my family and have some fun. Kelly was still fevering at times so he would be good one day and down for the count the next. We did manage to squeeze in some fun in between. Here are some highlights:

The first day there Kelly was in bed all day recovering from the eight hour drive the previous day, so I took Jonah down the street to the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum. Here he is next to statue of the tallest man ever documented. David & Goliath?


Tuesday afternoon we all went to the Ripley's Aquarium in downtown Gatlinburg. Everyone really enjoyed it, even Elisabeth.


Wednesday, we went up in the skylift to Ober Gatlinburg and went ice skating. It was mine and Jonah's first time. Jonah had a hard time staying on his feet. We also saw a mommy bear and two cubs in a tree from the skylift.




This day was also my mom's 55th birthday. So we ate an ice cream cake and took pictures of her being silly. Happy Birthday Mom! It's good to have a mom who doesn't always act her age nor look it.



Thursday, we took the windy road out to Cades Cove.



And of course it was fun watching the kids and grandparents connect.


Also, there was a big black bear that would visit the dumpster fairly regularly. One night we were getting ready to bring the kids and a pizza into the hotel from the car when the door we had been using was obstructed so we had to get in the front door quick before the bear came for our pizza. It was very exciting!


This is Elisabeth and I at a stop near the Clingman's Dome turnoff in Great Smoky Mountain National Park on the drive home.