Happy Birthday Katie!

Katie has decided that our family tradition will be to get our Christmas tree on her birthday.   At around 8:00 a.m. we were off to Lowe's.

The kids choose the tree by smell and height.   We forgot to look at the shape of the tree.   The tree the kids picked had a super long tip to put our star (actually- it's an angel) and smelled good, but it was pretty scraggly.  I decided it didn't matter.  Every tree needs a good home no matter if it has a few bare spots.   We will love it for its imperfections.

Hannah preforms the smell test.

Gavin chooses the perfect one.

We waited our turn to have its trunk trimmed.

Everyone came but our Emily.  She stayed behind to get the house ready.

Spencer put the tree in the truck.

Hannah and Mom put up the lights.

David found the perfect limb for a sparkly glass ball.

My angels.

This wreath was voted, "favorite ornament."

After the tree was trimmed, we all had a candy cane.  

Braden's first candy cane.

Please can I have some more?

David

Katie

Gavin

Then the present opening began.

Gavin made a doll for his sister- see the blue face with the pink smile under the tree?

Jessica made a darling card, and a doll dress with smocking and an apron.

Hannah spent the last month or more creating a doll house furnished with everything she could imagine.  Shampoo lids became bathtubs, toothpicks became curtain rods, drops of hardened glue became a set of plates.  It is a beautiful house for the new little pets and critters to play in.  

Later in the afternoon she tested out her new bike.  A few days later her very own set of scriptures were delivered.  Happy Birthday, Katie!!

(Jessica decorated the cake.)