Tis the most wonderful time of the year

Oh Christmas Tree

It's Official it's up!! A day later than planned, but it's up.

We had planned to put the up on the 1st December; in fact Guy (my husband) had been bugging me since we bought it in early November, but the 1st rolled around and we got sideswiped by work and shopping for a new . By the time we got back to the on Tuesday evening it was gone 21:00 and we were both too . We had picked out a car though, so the evening wasn't a complete loss.

In the end we just went straight to bed. No food. No . No advent calendar or .... just a semi early night.

Last night we were determined to erect the snow covered, 7 footer...

It's huge.... We were going to put on of the small, low footstool base we have, but we wouldn't be able to put the on top. And what's tree without a topper? Undressed? Exactly!! Not happening!! So on the floor it is.

It was surprising simply to put together - only three pieces, four if you count the base/foot - and was ready to start decorating in a matter of minutes.

Guy had the job of putting on the . I hate Christmas lights... I mean I love them, they're very pretty, but they are a pain to wrap around the tree, and that's after you manage to untangle them from themselves. It's definitely a blue job... I'll do all the rest of it; the bauble hanging, the candles, the ornaments, the stockings, and flower arranging, just NOT the tree lights. That's not to say I won't give direction. I think Guy was ready to throw the lights towards the end, but after twenty minutes of huffing and puffing they were on, and twinkling away. Hurray.

That just left the baubles. Guy disappeared to bed shortly after the lights, to leave me to it. It had obviously taken a lot out of him.

I must confess, I LOVE my baubles and tree decs. I shopping for little cute extra each year to add to our collection. It's a tradition I intend to keep - each year a few new additions. We've decide to add a beautiful hand crafted, Bath glass, bauble each Christmas, a bright to colour, and a few carefully selected group pieces; be it bells, , angels or figures. And when the little one arrives they'll get to pick one out as well. However, as I arranged my trinkets in front of me I realised that most of the decorations were silver, white, or glass. Perfect for our previous green tree. Not so great so the new one. I may need to invest in some brighter greens, reds and golds in the in coming years. It does look pretty though. At least I think so.

We haven't put the on yet. We usually leave that until the rest of the house is dressed, which usually takes place across a few days - the first week in December generally. It's the last finishing touch after all.

I did manage to start on the rest of the living room. I've unwrapped the , hung the , potted the dried fruit/flowers/cinnamon/pinecone in the glass hurricane vases, and the finished the Christmas flower arrangements - complete with the new little doves dotted through it. But there is still the dinning room and kitchen to do, as well as clearing the non-festive paraphernalia away.

We did manage to catch-up with the advent calendars yesterday. Indy was very happy to get two sets of doggy treats!! And I have to admit I didn't mind the two piece of chocolate either. I also lighted the advert candle for half an hour or so while I was decking the halls/tree. I think it may be a few days until we catch-up probably.

I can't wait until this weekend. The first weekend in December is when we finish the house. When we get to sit down in the evening with a Santa shaped of hot chocolate, with the tree lights on and the mulled wine scented candles glowing; when it real begins to feel like and when we can relax in to it. It will be the prefect time to read "The night before Christmas" to the bump and begin on writing the Christmas cards and present lists. There may even be a little Christmas baking going on...