Christmas at the McAlister's

As a child, every Christmas my Mom decorated the house inside and out with lavish christmas trees, animated figures, and singing Santas!  I know thats not what Christmas is all about, but through the eyes of a child, all those decorations smeared from wall to wall made Christmas feel that much more special.

Now, as an adult, I want to give Brenna those same happy memories.  So, like every year before this, we pulled out all the decorations and got to work.  This year was even more enjoyable, since Brenna played a much bigger part.  She "helped" so much that what is normally a 2-day job, turned into 3.  But that's ok, she had so much fun this year putting up the Christmas tree, decorating it, and hanging the stockings.  She took a particular liking to my collection of Christmas bells (which she kept calling cow bells!).  Here's a few pictures of the start of our McAlister Christmas.

Granny (Brenna's Great-Grandmother Jerry) hand-made all the Christmas Stocking, with Brenna's getting added just this year. 

This was our beautiful tree just after Brenna and I finished it.  I'm willing to bet we clocked at least a mile walking in circles wrapping ribbon, lights, and placing ornaments, with Brenna singing "Ring around the rosey!" the whole time.  If you look close you can see my reflection in the gold ball in one of my funky photog positions trying to get the right angle.......

  Brenna made the Merry Christmas ornament.  It was one of many new craft ornaments that she added to the tree this year!

  Our Mississippi State Christmas collection grows little by little each year.  This year we added the new MState Snowman Stocking for Brenna and moved the decor to the the office.

Big thanks to Uncle Marcus, who helped put up the outside lights at the expensive of losing some functionality in his right thumb.  Too bad he won't be here to help take it down.