All is calm, all is bright.

I'm sitting here enjoying a quiet evening (baby in bed, just barely) while admiring our beautiful - and finally decorated - Christmas tree. It was a laborious process getting that puppy up and trimmed. We got the tree on Friday night, and Chris managed to get it in the stand before bed. Yesterday, however, we did not make much progress on decorating. Chris went shopping for a few hours in the morning, and we went for a walk with Bailey and this guy in the afternoon:



After that, it was time to get ready to go to our annual Dec 5th dinner at Rick Erwin's. No, it was not December 5th, but it WAS the scheduled night of the Greenville Christmas parade, and we got to watch the parade last year as we ate dinner, and decided to do the same again this year. We requested a table by the window and therefore got to enjoy the parade, complete with marching bands, walking dogs in t-shirts, Ronald McDonald, and of course Santa. It was a much-enjoyed evening and once we got home, we were too tired for tree-trimming.

So, this afternoon, we got back into the tree-trimming mood. Chris spent about 3 hours putting the lights on the tree while listening to holiday music. He did a great job staying in the holiday spirit, and I think I only heard him yell in anger twice. I did, however, hear him blame me for crappy tree selection approximately 978 times. Once the lights were on, we spent an enjoyable hour or two putting the ornaments on the tree with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer on the TV and Max in the jiggle chair giving his commentary on the whole thing. He even helped me put up his "Baby's 1st Christmas ornament."



In the end, regardless of my tree selection, I think it looks great:

Naked tree(with head-less Bailey):



and VOILA, Christmas Tree:




I think the transformation from everyday house to Christmas house is complete. It sure is a lot of work, but once all the lights and decorations are out and we can sit in the evenings in the light of the tree, it's all worth it.

Before (part nursery school, part living room, part MESS)



After:







Oh, and while I was out shopping briefly today, St. Nicklaus stopped by and left me a gift. He somehow always knows just what a like!! MMMMMMMM, gingerbread!!!!



And finally, a big Happy Birthday to Grandma Monika! Max got to Skype with his Grandmother today for her Birthday.



And then I got the bright idea to take a picture of Max "with" his Grandmother...if I had had more time to plan this out, it would have come out better, but it's still pretty cute.



And Max also got to chat with Aunt Edith! (he was showing her his favorite ball).



So now time to sit back and enjoy the rest of the evening while watching Sarah Palin's Alaska and perhaps enjoying some hot chocolate. And maybe one more gingerbread. Maybe.

And to all a good night!