Sunday, December 4, 2011

The First Half of Our Weekend

The finished tree. It wouldn't win any awards, but we like it. Though Jack keeps complaining that it's too small.

Madeline putting the tree-topper in place. This was a wedding gift from Eileen Dozler. We will treasure it always.

Decorating. It got a little wild.

See the child in the lower, right-hand corner? That's the reason things got a little wild.

J&J Treeland, where we've cut our tree the last 4 years. This is the first year it didn't snow on us. Kind of a disappointment. Check out Jon's sweet hat.

Jack, cutting the tree. Naturally.

Had to stop at my Amish friend's house to drop off some elderberry syrup.

We made a lovely day trip to pick out our Christmas tree yesterday. The weather was mild and sunny. We dropped off some glass jars and syrup in Amishland, found Jon's winter coat at THE best kids resale shop in Appomattox (yes, the very place where "our nation reunited"), drank coffee and looked at books at "Baine's Books and Coffee," knitted up a storm while riding about the countryside, visited the coolest model train display at "Bevell's Hardware" in Blackstone, and walked through the Blackstone city park's Christmas lighted village.

And let's not forget the Victoria parade on Friday, complete with "Uptown Coffee" drinks and music. And those crazy Shriner's, who drive their little cars. Even Sarah says, "Those Shriner's creep me out!" We agree, Sarah.