Little by little the decorations have been trickling out.

Back when I had all kinds of time, I would be the first one on the block to get the Christmas stuff out – the day after Thanksgiving.

Now, with the appearance of children, and chaos, I’m considering it a minor victory that both trees are up and we are decorated – with twenty, nineteen, uh… eighteen days to spare even!

Although you’d think I’d be able to get done twice as fast with two extra pairs of hands helping out.

Right. Although I do love the fact that each and every ornament went on our tree in the living room.

In the past I would have the “bottom layer” of ornaments that were deemed “unworthy” for our tree. They were either kind of falling apart or just not “nice enough” to put on the tree. But with the girls, each ornament is a treasure to behold. I think that the little tag Addie made for us that was on our present from preschool last year now has a prime spot on the tree. Whereas before? It would have been relinquished to the bottom of the box.

It is those little treasures – and the reminder to appreciate them – that truly make this the most wonderful time of the year.