I am so excited! For the first time in my life, I have a real, live Christmas Tree! Its perfect. Logan and I went last weekend to pick it out from the Christmas Tree stand down the street. The guy said we picked the kind that sheds the least and is the most fragrant. I think its a noble fir? Anyway, after we first got it into the condo I was a little worried about all the pine needles everywhere, but it really hasn't shed much since then. Of course I'm terrified I'll kill it. I didn't inherit the green thumb gene. Mine apparently is black. As hard as I try I just can't keep plants alive. Although, surprisingly my poinsettias are doing very well. I was at home depot a couple of
weeks ago and saw the most beautiful poinsettias I've ever seen. They are some special "breed" of poinsettia - I can't remember what they're called... Ice Punch or something? Anyway, the leaves are bright red with white swirls in the center. Sort of like peppermints. Anyway, I wanted the larger $30 arrangement, but decided that it made more financial sense for me to kill off the $10 plant instead. I told my mom about my flower find and she said that the trick to keeping poinsettias alive is to put about 4 ice cubes on the dirt every day instead of watering them. Apparently they like the cold. It must be working because they're still living - and still looking good. Back to the tree. Check out my cute tree skirt I found! Its sort of velvet with different sizes of
red sequins along the trim. I love it! While its all worth it, I've realized that putting a tree together is a LOT of work. I now understand why after begging her grown children to help out (and not getting any help) my mother decided to just throw some lights on the ficus a few years ago. (Not that I condone this mom, I just understand.) Lucy has completely ignored the tree. Its like she doesn't even know its there - even though I had to rearrange furniture and everything, and its supposed to be very fragrant, she just doesn't notice. I guess I should be thankful. Rather than her knocking it over, or eating it, this just means her daily doses of doggie xanax are doing their job. Even still, I had to try to get some cute pictures of her in her Christmas collar in front of the tree. Logan makes fun of the collar and takes it off her every chance he gets while I sneak it back on when he isn't looking. Hey, its the only time of year I can dress her up! She definitely needs to be groomed, but I think she's still pretty darn cute.
Last night Logan and I were supposed to go see the Gaylord Ice exhibit with Mike and Leanne. The traffic was unbelievable, so we ended up pulling over and getting dinner at Don Julio's instead. (The boys had a hard time containing their excitement over the good fortune of not having to see the ice sculptures.) We had a great time with Mike and Leanne as always.
Since I've only bought one Christmas present so far, I guess I should use this day off to get some shopping done. I'm not officially a procrastinator if I still have 11 days until Christmas, right?
I am so excited! For the first time in my life, I have a real, live Christmas Tree! Its perfect. Logan and I went last weekend to pick it out from the Christmas Tree stand down the street. The guy said we picked the kind that sheds the least and is the most fragrant. I think its a noble fir? Anyway, after we first got it into the condo I was a little worried about all the pine needles everywhere, but it really hasn't shed much since then. Of course I'm terrified I'll kill it. I didn't inherit the green thumb gene. Mine apparently is black. As hard as I try I just can't keep plants alive. Although, surprisingly my poinsettias are doing very well. I was at home depot a couple of 
weeks ago and saw the most beautiful poinsettias I've ever seen. They are some special "breed" of poinsettia - I can't remember what they're called... Ice Punch or something? Anyway, the leaves are bright red with white swirls in the center. Sort of like peppermints. Anyway, I wanted the larger $30 arrangement, but decided that it made more financial sense for me to kill off the $10 plant instead. I told my mom about my flower find and she said that the trick to keeping poinsettias alive is to put about 4 ice cubes on the dirt every day instead of watering them. Apparently they like the cold. It must be working because they're still living - and still looking good. Back to the tree. Check out my cute tree skirt I found! Its sort of velvet with different sizes of 
red sequins along the trim. I love it! While its all worth it, I've realized that putting a tree together is a LOT of work. I now understand why after begging her grown children to help out (and not getting any help) my mother decided to just throw some lights on the ficus a few years ago. (Not that I condone this mom, I just understand.) Lucy has completely ignored the tree. Its like she doesn't even know its there - even though I had to rearrange furniture and everything, and its supposed to be very fragrant, she just doesn't notice. I guess I should be thankful. Rather than her knocking it over, or eating it, this just means her daily doses of doggie xanax are doing their job. Even still, I had to try to get some cute pictures of her in her Christmas collar in front of the tree. Logan makes fun of the collar and takes it off her every chance he gets while I sneak it back on when he isn't looking. Hey, its the only time of year I can dress her up! She definitely needs to be groomed, but I think she's still pretty darn cute. 
Here's what we finally ended up with when my mom got my dad under control. ;) 
Here is a picture of Papaw, Ross and Jessica about to dig in!
Next, I decided I HAD to have a picture of my dad's plate. My dad is a metabolic mystery. The man can consume an unimaginable number of calories and never gain an ounce. It is increadibly frustrating for the rest of us. Anyway, every year he loads his plate up - at least twice - and this year I got a picture of the first round. He looks a little scary in this picture, but he's just really excited about eating. Oh, and apparently we should be proud of him. He "only" had 6 rolls, one piece of apple pie, and two servings of my 4 layer dessert. This is an improvement!
After lunch comes my favorite part of the day - the Cowboys game and nap time.
Logan and Toby dozed off waiting for the game to start. Who doesn't love that dog??
Later that night we played the new edition of Trivial Pursuit that Logan and I bought. That didn't last long though. Jessica and I gave up on it, so we played Battle of the Sexes instead. (Great game, by the way.) After that was Scattegories, my favorite game.
Lucy chomped on her bone and ignored everyone, as usual.
And Toby was still worn out from the hours of stalking the kitchen for dropped food.
