Tree Trimming . 2011

Patrick and I have made it a tradition, since 2005, (with the exception made in 2009 when we moved!) to decorate our Christmas Tree the weekend following Thanksgiving.  This year we followed that tradition, and set up the tree last Saturday, and decorated it Sunday.

Ryder enjoyed hanging the ornaments (at first!).

He was very delicate with each of them, and chose the branch very carefully.

Once he lost interest, he helped me by pointing to where it should go - he didn't want to hang more himself.

Christmas Tree . 2011

Left: A view from outside, with our window snowflakes lit up.

Right: Details of our tree.  Each year that we have been married we add 2 picture frames that contain a family picture from that year:
2004: Wedding and Honeymoon
2005: Graduation and our first Christmas Tree
2006: Athens, Georgia and San Diego
2007: Professional photo and Canada Road Trip
2008: Daytona 500 and Texas NASCAR race
2009: First family-of-three picture and our new house
2010: Ryder's 1 year and San Diego
2011: First family-of-five picture and first family-of-five Christmas picture

Taking a family self-portrait in front of the Christmas tree proved a bit difficult, but thanks to a Nap Nanny, and a self-timer, we were able to (kind-of) get a shot. 

Christmas Tree Family Photo . 2011