Well the Nord's North Carolina house has been brimming with Christmas Spirit today! Less than two weeks after all of our belongings arrived from Michigan, we managed to find the Christmas boxes (well, enough of them) to start decorating. Kyle and Jeremy were both pretty excited to work on the tree so with the sounds of Christmas Carols floating through the house, they helped assemble it. (their first time ever helping with that aspect of the job). They loved adding each branch to the tree "trunk" and more-so they enjoyed the color coding game that went along with it... "Jeremy can you find a branch that is brown?" "Kyle, I'll need two white branches next." "Who put a green one in this row? We're working on Black." While we assembled the tree it occurred to me: "We've had this tree since we lived in the Apartment in Lake Orion (after we first married.). Wow, that's 11 years now! Time flies.... "
We promised the boys that the "Lights Fairy" would come during nap time to put the lights on the tree. They pointed out that the lights fairy is really Mom & Dad because they've watched us light the tree before. Hmmm, observant. I'll remember that! So Alex and I switched the music from traditional Christmas Carols to a Jimmy Buffet Christmas CD and set to work. Now, what the lights fairies didn't know, was the the box of Christmas decor with the LIGHTS in it, is missing. I'm sure it's here somewhere, but finding them? So, this year we have a blue-light tree. (Wow, just made the connection. Sorry Family Dollar, I feel a little like a traitor) I've had these blue Christmas lights for years, but multi-colored was our traditional look. Apparently, we're starting a new tradition this year; seems fitting. So, by 4:30 pm the tree was lit and ready for the evening project of hanging ornaments.
But first, the boys had to do their Christmas shopping!
With only 6 shopping days left (one of which is C-R-A-Z-Y if you want my 2 cents), we decided it was a good night to let Kyle and Jeremy each go to Kmart to pick out a gift for their brother. So, off we went, all four of us, to dinner at Steak & Shake and to Kmart for some toy shopping. Both boys, with their $10 bills in hand, enjoyed finding a toy for the other. Jeremy struggled with the concept only a little (he wanted to shop for his upcoming birthday - can't blame him.) and Kyle struggled with making a decision. (So many great choices!) Eventually, both settled on something and they proceeded (hiding from each other, of course) to the checkout to pay for their selection. All in all they got a big kick out of holding onto the money, figuring out what was in their budget, choosing the gift, paying the cashier and hiding the bag from their brother. Now, any bets on how long they can keep the gift contents a secret?
After returning home, the guys immediately took to hanging ornaments on the tree and playing with the decorative gift boxes under it. Kyle pretended to be Santa, asking each of us if we'd been good. (Answers varied). :)
By 10:30 (after a couple books were read and a few pictures were taken) the boys were exhausted & ready for bed. I'm happy to report that there's a good chance that Sugar-Plums may be dancing through their heads right now (even if it is a little early).
Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!
