Decking the Halls

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care way up high, out of reach from sticky toddler hands.

We made sure to adhere to some of our favorite Christmas traditions this year, and it all started with cutting down a Christmas tree at Enchanted Winds Christmas Tree Farm. Of course we had to do it in the pouring rain, but that's Pacific Northwest living for you!

Ryder didn't mind the weather one bit, and he was such a good boy helping us pick out the perfect tree. Stew exercised his manly patriarchal duties and cut it down for us while I huddled under the umbrella. We were happy to head inside afterward to stand by the fire and warm up.

We took our lovely tree home and spent the next afternoon listening to holiday music while we decked the halls and made the house Christmas-y. 

We knew that hanging our stockings on the fireplace mantle would result in an immediate disaster when Ryder yanked on them, so we had to come up with a more creative, toddler-friendly solution for the stockings this year. 

Stew's mom made his stocking for him when he was little, and a few years ago he had one made for me in the same style. Then of course last year we had to get one for Ryder, too. And my mom has been giving me these creepy carolers for years now for some reason...

Every year we try to buy Christmas ornaments at some point during our travels. This year we got some super cute stuff on our trip to Cannon Beach, Oregon. We got this super cute, wooden, Christmas-scene Advent calendar, plus a whole set of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle ornaments for Ryder and an adorable one of Santa at the beach.

Our tree is a little smaller this year, and we didn't go crazy with the ornaments (I still have a whole box left in the garage) but I still think it turned out so pretty. 

Receiving photo Christmas cards is one of my favorite things about December! I love checking the mail every day to see what else has arrived. And Ryder absolutely loves standing at the fridge, pointing at the cards and identifying all his friends and family members in the photos. It's downright adorable.

And of course Ryder visited Santa! Although he wasn't nearly as thrilled about the situation this year. I think he was just humoring Mom and Dad...

We will be spending Christmas this year with my family in Olympia, and I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. I'm so excited about all the gifts I bought for everyone, and I'm really looking forward to some nice relaxing holiday time with everyone I love.

Bring on the Christmas cheer!