Tis the season

I must start out with the hilarity that is my dog at each Christmas. My wonderful in-laws always take care of her with a new "baby." (This year there were 3 that we are choosing to give her one at a time.) Well, Christmas night, we came home and gave it to her. This is what went on for at least an hour:

(I hope it works) 

She doesn't let it leave her side. This morning, I woke up and Soco and I were in the living room when suddenly she started walking around the house very distraught. I just watched her and she came prancing out of our bedroom with her baby in her mouth. 

She also makes sure she has it when she takes naps on the couch. 

 

Right now, she's snuggled up against my leg, sleeping with her baby right in front of her head. It's really sweet until she gives it too much love and the stuffing comes out. 

...at least she has 2 more when this one's is over-loved. The weird thing is that even after we think we've thrown away all pieces of babies, months later, she will bring us a random ear she had hidden somewhere. 

*******

Our Christmas tree started out as a butt of a joke for Derek and me. Last year, our tree stand broke. Despite our MANY efforts, we couldn't fix it and had to go out and buy a new tree for the year. We opened the box with great anticipation because of the "awesome deal" we got on a pre-lit tree only to find that you can see right through it. From every angle, no matter how much fluffing is done, you can see the stem of this tree. We laughed it off, decorated it and were thankful we had a tree for the year. We also had a goal of buying a new tree after Christmas when they were on sale. 

Well.... we forgot. We took our tree out remembering the wonderful pre-lit-ness of the tree and began fluffing. Then it all came back and we started laughing at how Charlie Brown it looked, especially with no decorations on it. Since our Friends' Christmas is at our house, and was only 2 days later, we decorated as best we could and made a promise to buy a new tree this year after Christmas. (We still haven't)

Well... here's our tree. It doesn't look so bad in pictures. :-) 

What you don't notice in these pictures is that Derek and I are both about a foot taller than the tree. 

Here is a picture from last year of Soco in front of the tree 

She looks enormous, but the tree is just so small. 

*******

Who knows if we really will get a tree, or if we'll just forget about how small and sad this tree is once again until we open the box next year. 

One thing I do know... next year there will be much more excitement surrounding Christmas. We'll have a 9 month old baby to celebrate with!