Decorating for Christmas

It has been our tradition to pick out our Christmas tree at my parent's house.  This year, we let Alena pick out the tree all by herself.  Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of us by the tree before we cut it down, but I was able to get some while we were decorating it. 

All ready to go pick out the tree

Alena is so excited about Christmas and loves to look at Christmas lights.  Although Justin said he wasn't going to put Christmas lights up this year, I think Alena talked him into it.  Alena is also curious about our little elf, Ernie (or she calls him Bert and Ernie).  She likes to see where he is hiding each morning.

 

It's become an annual tradition to make Christmas cookies at my parent's house.  So we spent a day in Ames decorating cookies.  Alena really got into it this year-I'm sure there were more sprinkles on the floor than on the cookies, but we all had a great time.