Buying the Christmas tree is only the beginning. Next comes the official Is It Straight Debate. The debate goes something like this..
"Is it straight?"... "No"
"How bout now?"..."sorta"
"What about from your angle"... "No"
"Is it straight now?"
...and it goes on and on.
Half of the debate team
Mom planned for a woodsy look this year so she's collected all kinds of
animals like beavers, owls and deer. Some of them look a little creepy.
Pastor Doctor took a
sabbatical from hanging the lights this year. He made
Kait do most of it to practice for next year (duh, husbands) A rub of the lucky forehead was
definitely needed.
Mom saves the day
We all knew he couldn't sit back and watch us do it the
wrong way so he added his expert help.
We've collected some snazzy ornaments over the years
It's takes a good eye to know exactly where each ornament should hang. You have to examine it's weight, size and popularity (Snoopy
definitely goes front and center).
Tadaaaa! Our pretty (and a little crooked) Christmas tree!!
Fun pictures with the fancy camera.
Up to no good.
Dad and his sister, Martha.
The festive gathering was interrupted for a short time while Gran (who will be 82 yrs. old next month) cleaned up Chrissy's tinkle. Lots of tinkle. She kept barking and no one thought to take her out. Sorry Chrissy.
We ended the evening talking about important topics like the endangered clams. Yes, that would be the Carolina Healsplitter clam. They told us all about how it was protected and how you can't build anything near them or even touch them. They didn't seem like big fans of the clam movement. For a list of endangered clams you can click here. This might've been the first educational blog post ever. Endangered Healsplitter clam..who knew? 
Ben was on a role and did the dishes. Looks like he's in the running to win the Christmas Spirit Award this year.
Mom convinced us to drive around and look at lights. Dad was ready for the cold weather with Mom's purple jacket.
Helpful Hint: turn off the camera flash before you take pictures out of the back window.
Mom rolled down the windows and cranked up the Christmas music to add to the festivities.
She also put on the child proof locks so that we couldn't roll them back up. We tried.
Purple seems to work with his skin tone nicely.
and All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth.
Other clues were "making Christmas cookies" and cranberry sauce (that sounds like Thanksgiving though...?)
Mom didn't guess cranberry sauce and she put the clue in herself! 
Kent wrote "Nachos" as clue. He claims that it was before he heard that the rule was Christmas clues only. Sara had to draw it and the girls still got it!!
They're guessing here. Dad's was in it to win it, but GIRLS RULE! Maybe next year, guys. 
Anna set the table with the works.. something like 2 forks, 2 spoons, 2 knives for each person. It was a professional table setting job. The dishwasher is very full today.
Playing Mancala while waiting for people to arrive.
We enoyed some tasty meat!
Sing along with us.. "On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me: 2 dogs in a packed houseeeeeee" Chips was a total bully and growled whenever Oliver tried to play with him.
It was Kent's idea to have both dogs inside. He's been watching too much of the 
We also exchanged Secret Santa presents!! Excited faces all around! 
Mom and Dad got a picture book from ParkerII from their wedding. Fun times! 
Dad checking out the fat lump.
With Greg, a friend from church.
Anna bought a fancy camera recently so she's usually around here snapping pictures and blinding us with the bright flash.
We're sending him into the world with 2 essential items: a lunch box and a graduation Christmas ornament.
