Oh Christmas Tree!

We had our annual trim-the-tree party last weekend with all of our favorite traditions - new pajamas, Christmas music, "fancy" cookies, hot cocoa in Santa mugs, and a pine scented candle ("tricking everyone about our fake tree" as Henry says). This is one of the few years that the kids were begging to decorate the tree first, instead of chowing down on sugary treats. All four gathered around the ornament box to pull out their favorites. Henry and John ask for the story about every single ornament. And they still fight over the Santa puppet one. Peter did not want any help putting ornaments on the tree - "I do it like big boy!" He struggled at first to get one on, but once he did it, his smile was worth it. Frances gnawed on most of the ornaments. And then she started removing all of Peter's hard work. The boys really focused on the bottom of the tree, so Gus and I did some rearranging after bedtime. Then it was treat time. Henry and John liked the hot cocoa, but it's really just a vehicle for marshmallows. Peter did not like the hot cocoa, so he ate his marshmallows straight up. Frances tried one marshmallow and spit it out on the floor. No one had any complaints about those "fancy" cookies though.