On the Eighth day of Christmas...

...our happy family admired twinkling lights as we drove from basketball to gymnastics to the doctor of gynecology.

This "event" was a stretch, but it was one of those days where it's totality was spent in the car.  Meals, homework, naps, etc.  And so, taking in our surroundings was all the festivus we could muster.  Interesting to note: the uglier and hodge podgie the Christmas decor, the more amazing my children found it to be.  

Gross.

On the Seventh day of Christmas...

...our happy family sang the longest and most raucous rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas there ever could be (with actions; pictured, 10 lords-a-leaping).

Or maybe Tess had just experienced a faith healing and was all "thank you Jesus."

On the Sixth day of Christmas...

 ...our happy family pieced a festive puzzle and devoured a decadent minty brownie.

On the Fifth Day of Christmas...

 ...our happy family dressed in our Sunday best and dined on a fine almond puff pastry.

 (Green tree theme is dead.  I'm out.  Kaput.)

On the Fourth day of Christmas...

 ...our happy family rode wild animals and saw twinkling lights strung on a variety of Garden State green trees.

Linley still hates those in full costume.  She is intelligent.

 This little bundle of sugarplum stayed snuggled in snoozing in her stroller throughout all the sparkle.  She is also intelligent.

 See how we strategically placed ourselves around that Z??  

We are so intelligent.

On the Third day of Christmas...

 ...our happy family created a gooey and nearly green Rice Krispie Treat Evergreen tree. 

On the Second day of Christmas...

...our happy family read enchanting tales of Christmas by the sparkly, shiny green tree.

On the first day of Christmas...

...our happy family ate yummy Christmas cookies by the sparkly, shiny green tree.

Festivus

Normally we save our Christmas adventures into the city for the 12 Days of Christmas.

(Let's be honest...normally we save any fun Christmas related activities for the 12 days of Christmas.  

I really hate to put myself out and do extra.  I'm more of a bare minimum kind of girl.)

 Buuuuuttt, when December sees itself courting a 60 degree day, you dance.  And dance we did.  Straight on over to Macy's.

 Because that is what we call a miracle occurring live and in living color on 34th Street.

 Sweet husband Allen took Tess on the train with him to work in the morning, then dropped her off at  the day care there.  

We will be doing that again real soon.

That left me with just the two bigs and the baby on the train that afternoon.  Easy peesy.  We all rejoined at the train entrance to Santaland.  

The lineless train. 

 Yet another Christmas miracle.

Eden hates Santa.  Which is why he will not be bringing her any presents this year.

I will though.  Because baby girl is sleeping through the night.

Let's all take a moment to proudly pound our chests and excitedly do a happy dance. 

True to form, neither Santa nor Santaland disappointed.  

 Extra sparkle has officially been added to The Season.

 And per the usual, the city was a walking winterland.  Minus the winterland part.  

 Because it was 60 degrees outside.  Remember??

 We stopped for dinner at this hipster vegan spot.

 The food was mega tasty but miniscule.  

So naturally we purchased $30 worth of crap snacks at Penn Station 30 minutes later. 

 It was a night of pure beauty.

 And we are all feeling a little extra festive. 

 

Success all around.

Decking Halls and Trimming Trees

Last weekend we added a little sparkle and spruce to the place.

Because this home is so teensy tiny and because we will be spending the week of Christmas in Georgia, we elected to forgo our usual shopping and chopping of the Evergreen and instead, provided an itty bitty fake for each child.

The process proved to be quite successful, and one I am certain we will repeat next year.

Which maybe means I will get to decorate the big tree exactly how I want it????

It's beginning to feel merry and bright around here...