Christmas, Christmas time is here!

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we almost always get our tree. Our house in Elkhorn had a high ceiling in the great room (12 Ft) and it wasn't until our LAST Christmas there that we realized we could get a BIG tree (newsflash to the Barlows!!). Soooo, new house...18 ft ceiling! We could go NUTS. The only problem, we didn't think about the fact that the room itself isn't huge. So, the tree has plenty of horizontal space, but it's overtaking the room a bit. So what if we can't watch TV until 2008. Next year, TALL AND SKINNY!

Me and my elves

ok, another funny story. WE COULD NOT GET THE ANGEL ON TOP! This is our highest ladder, and I made a couple of attempts. Here's Ted, with Barbeque tongs smashing the beautiful angel face, trying to get her up there. As Anna describes her, because she's slumped over on top, looking like she had too much egg-nog, "she's just sleepy."

Lots of stories about this tree...last one: the morning after we put it in the stand (not decorated yet, thankfully), our HUGE tree TIPS OVER, IN THE STAND, DUMPING ALL OF THE WATER OUT ON MY NEW CARPET! I was laying on the floor, gingerly moving the tray the stand sits on, to expose the most beautiful side. All I can do is yell, "help! help!" So here is Ted's solution--WE HAVE STRAPPED OUR TREE TO 20 LB DUMBELLS! This bad boy ain't goin' nowhere no more.

Okay, I have one last story. I always do the lights on the outside of the house, besides for the years I was prego. Note to self: These gutters are much higher, and our driveway is much steeper. I was sure they would find me unconscious, rolling down one of the hills we have around here. Ted took pity on me and finished the job after he saw my tactics. Safety Bob would NOT have been pleased.

I hope I've given you some holiday cheer. MERRY CHRISTMAS.