What tradition?

This year, our holiday decorating night was much, much different than the last.
Remember this? Haha...good times.
Every year since we have been married, we have gone with my parents and sister to get our trees together on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Yesterday was way too rainy for that, so we conceded that tradition and went to our local tree farm this afternoon with Charlie. He had a blast running through the trees and helping Adam "drive" around the farm. I was a good wifey and didn't overscrutinize every tree. (Although, why is it that they look so perfect on the farm and totally jacked up when you get them home?) Adam went all lumberjack on me and had that tree cut down in 2.7 seconds. (I think he has been practicing). We stopped by the store on the way home, tree on van, to grab a few last items of Christmas cheer, where I somehow managed to lock the keys in the van. I know, shocker. We were quickly rescued by Adam's dad (thank God for having the fam close) and headed home. I had been feeling increasingly crappy during all this, so when we got home, I was well...maybe a teeny bit cranky. Okay, I was a raging B. It was mostly because I was tired of holding the itchy tree up while Adam screwed it in place beneath me. Ah, the joys of real trees! At one point, we were so frustrated with the thing that we almost considered leaving it flopped against the window and dubbing it 'The Beauchamps Leaning Tower of Tree-sa'.
Yes, I know that's not funny.
Finally, the darn cyprus was standing straight and tall. The entire time we were making that happen, Charlie whined. He wanted to play Nintendo. (He has been on detox for an entire week). He wanted to watch Spiderwick. He didn't want his dinner, he wanted a "snack". He was so not into the tree thing. I had imagined that once we got the lights up, we would break out the good stuff and he would have a blast helping us hang them, and that holiday warmy goodness would finally descend upon our chaotic evening. What actually happened was...
I feel asleep on the couch with Malgirl. I woke up almost 2 hours later. Charlie and Mallory were both in bed, and Adam was next to me. Once I shook it off, I realized I felt much better. I also realized something else. If Adam had fallen asleep while I was on Operation Decorate, I would have most likely tried to have him beheaded. It would have been a wrath of fury. Loud sighs, silent treatment, chilly glares. I'm a total brat.
So, when he turned on the Christmas music and surprised me with two cups of hot chocolate, I realized that maybe, just maybe I should learn to chillax more.
We had a great night, just the two of us, putting the tree together and talking about the ornaments that are special to us. We talked about how many more we are going to accumulate over these next few, precious years. We sang songs. We enjoyed the quiet. We hugged. It was the epitomy of holiday romance. I felt like one of those cheesy couples in the jewelery commercials.
After the tree was finished, we did the rest of the house. Hanging things up, lighting candles, and just cleaning a little. When we try, we really make a great team, that boy and I.
So, we didn't get to spend the evening with the kids like I had wanted. I will get some pictures of them hanging around the tree soon. But, I learned a lesson in patience, and Adam learned that it's not that dang hard to be romantic. It wasn't the night we planned, but I'm learning that plans don't always become the reality, and that's okay. It's better than okay. It's life.

The kids, before bedtime...



The parents, getting Christmas-y...






Some of our favorite ornaments...








And of course, the cow:


We didn't forget about PDP. Doesn't he look lovely?


TahDaaaah!