Unforgettable Childhood

A few years ago we decided that we were going to do an artificial Christmas tree instead of a real one. I got tired of picking up pine needles in July.

I decided that if we could do a tree farm and pick out our tree it would be a different experience, but just buying it in a little store lot, wasn’t worth it.

My husband worked on Saturday so the girls and I decided to do it without him. First we had to separate all of the colors.

Madelyn helped me spruce up the branches.

Taylor helped add the branches to the base.

It took a long time to get the tree all put together and the lights strung, but everyone helped. They could not wait to start adding the ornaments. I would love to have a theme tree, but we have too many memories on this tree to make it any different.

We could not find the Santa hats so the girls improvised with the Stockings for a picture in front of the tree.

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our house.

Starting on Sunday night we lit our first Advent Candle as a family. This is a tradition that both my husband and I grew up with at our home churches. We decided a few years ago to bring this tradition into our home. Every holiday season I love to dig out the wreath and the candles.

We start with our little one. She lights the first candle.

The first candle represents Hope. We talked with the girls about the Hope we have in Jesus. The girls are already talking about lighting the next candle on Sunday night.