It's beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas!

I decided this year we were going to get a real Christmas tree.  Our really nice (12 year old) fake tree was finally starting to look a little thin and I felt like we needed a new tradition so we headed to the mountains of North Carolina to Lil Grandfather Christmas Tree Farm.

We got to select our own tree.

 (It's the one right behind us.) And then we watched as they chopped it down for us!

 

And then they hauled it away. 

It's so nice to have a live tree!  It smells so good and the kids declared it "our best tree ever!"

So I think we started a new tradition!

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And then on Saturday Sarah's Girl Scout troop was in the local Christmas Parade.  Sarah did it last year and had such a great time.  She was thrilled when she found out they would be participating again.

Basically the girls decorate a trailer, sit in the back of it, wave to the crowd and throw out candy.  She loves being in the spotlight so this was right up her alley.

And the best part?  She had some leftover candy. And guess who's been eating that?

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We got our tree decorated and we got all the decorations up.  Sparkle (our Elf on the Shelf) came back from the North Pole and the kids are elated.  Our Advent Calendar is up and the Advent Candle was lit last night.

I would say we are well on our way!  

(Now I just have to finish all the shopping.)