Okay, the tree is up... and it's a biggun' as my brother would say..

My husband is always in charge of picking out the tree. I can't stand wandering around in the blistering cold, holding the tree while he stands back to get a better look, getting sap on my hands, etc. I passed that job on to him and the boys a few years ago, and I'll never go again! After all, I'm home preparing the space, getting out the lights and ornaments, and so forth...

What a perfect Saturday morning, snowing, cold and dark, perfect for decorating the tree. Perfect except for one thing... my CHILDREN were missing! Boo hoo... Nevertheless, I enjoyed

 getting out the ornaments and know that when they are home, they will examine the tree closely, looking for all their favorites. (I still have one son home, but of course he was with friends and had no interest in decorating...)

Love the Mackenzie-Childs ornaments...

 and tree topper...

The Mackenzie-Childs ornaments come packaged in those darling boxes I put under the tree!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!