never say never...again

I think I'm learning that I need to just keep my mouth shut when it comes to saying stuff like:

Never...
Not me...
Read my lips...

Seriously, it just keeps getting me busted when I cave.

These are some pictures of our last Christmas in Oregon:(Kaden was almost 2)

I guess growing up there made me spoiled. I remember going to the tree farm for a Christmas tree every year of my whole life. We usually got muddy, sometimes got rained on, and always got a candy cane on the way out the door. And, there's nothing like the smell of a fresh cut tree in the house.

When we came to Utah, I swore that we'd carry on the tradition of a real tree. The first 2 years we were here, we had one. But, it wasn't quite the same going to Home Depot (or somewhere like it) to get a tree that had been cut for weeks and already was showing signs of drying out and being half dead. Last year, I was down with my back, and didn't really care much about a tree at all, except for the boys having one.

This year I decided it was time....and so on Black Friday I bought an artificial tree.
*sigh*

I have to admit that it was SUPER easy to just get it out of the box and assemble it.
There wasn't a fight when we were putting it up about it not being straight.
It took just a couple of minutes and we were ready to get decorating:

We exchanged ornaments (one of our little traditions) and they're the first ones that go on the tree for the year. We try to make it represent something that's happened during the year, or something we want to remember:

Kaden's (Santa fishing):

Mine (a school house):

Bosten's (Disneyland):

Kyle's (Santa playing softball):


When we were finished with the ornaments, Kaden and Kyle put the star on top:

Kaden has a small tree in his room this year (first time ever). He loves it and we think its hysterical. I'll save that for another day, but I think you'll find it funny too!...