Christmas is Coming! Ready or Not!

Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming! I have been ready to decorate our tree since we got snow a week before Halloween. Now that it's here... I'm kind of bummed. MaKatie and I have spent the last ten days in isolation. Not exactly how I imagined spending my December. The night we came home from the Payne Christmas Party, she started fevering and has had croup since then.  I could see the end of the light at the tunnel when I came down with the worst cold I've had in years. Four days later, I think I'm maybe starting to feel a little better and I'm beginning to wonder if she is getting my cold. I hope and pray not! As of tomorrow night we'll have missed two Christmas parties, had to reschedule the big ultrasound and a much needed night away with my hubby. So what started out as a very well put together season is turning into one big rush to get things done. My goal was to get all the commercial stuff done, so I could focus on the the real meaning of Christmas. It's not happening this year, so maybe next year. I wouldn't have anything to look forward to next year if I had the perfect year this time.

As for those of you who have been asking... I am still suffering from "morning sickness." Today marks day one of week 20. I am so excited to be heading downhill on the count. Hopefully only a couple more months of being sick before my favorite trimester starts. Yes that's right I love the third trimester cause I finally stop throwing up. But I'll get to what you all read my blog for now... pictures of MaKatie.

The first weekend in December always brings the Payne Christmas Party. On the way we stopped to play with great grandma,

spent the weekend wearing this grandma out (but it was so nice for this mama to have a rest),

and we finally made it to the party. It was a great time, but MaKatie wasn't so sure about this guy named Santa. She wouldn't get any closer to him.

After having croup all week, we thought she might be up to getting a Christmas tree. After all she was looking pretty bright eyed after sitting on my lap all week. Even chipper enough to dig through the laundry and find these to wear.

We thought we had spotted the perfect tree from the truck just as MaKatie dosed off, so we drove a little further to let her nap. Bryant spotted some elk and took a few shots. He took a little hike to make sure he really didn't injure anything. This may be the closest I'll ever come to hunting with Bryant. I don't care for hiking and he doesn't care to wait up for me, so we have a mutual agreement not to hunt together. 

Back to our trees. MaKatie telling us which of the two she  wants. That's as long as she lasted. She wasn't feeling good again and wanted to sit in the truck. I was glad we were on private ground and could cut a tree close enough to the road so I felt comfortable leaving her in the truck. Plus its much easier cutting a tree in two inches of snow and only 15 feet from the truck without caring a child, then last years quarter plus of a mile in 18 inches of snow with a one year old in tow.

"Helping" with the clean-up for the tree to come in.

You can tell she still doesn't feel well and her attitude showed it even if she was having fun.

MaKatie thinks Christmas lights are for her belly button.

Helping mom string the lights and ribbon.

Or playing while mom tries to hang it.

I can do it by myself.

Okay maybe a little help would be great.

Up there dad. Whenever we'd ask where should this one go she'd reply, " On the Christmas tree." Really?

Which one do I want next?

The final project. Yay we got it done even if MaKatie wasn't back to 100% yet and mom was quickly heading down hill with a nasty cold. Glad we didn't try to wait for her to feel better or we still wouldn't have a tree yet. The next afternoon we took some pictures for our Christmas card. That was a joke too. Mom felt like crap, MaKatie felt like crap and refused to smile. So just laugh when you see our Christmas cards this year. All I can say is we tried, and no it wasn't the photographer's fault either.