I had planned to wrap today. Really, I had. It didn’t happen, but that’s okay.

First, we cut our Christmas tree, and while I thought the plan was to bring it in the house later in the day, our oldest and youngest sons had a different idea. While I was slowly walking back up the hill, talking to the chickens, they decided to pull it right in the house, even though it hadn’t been cut to the right height yet. As I came around the corner of the house, as our two year old twin grandchildren were shrieking in delight as they got out of the car, the four year old was chasing her uncles into the house following that tree. Needles everywhere, little ones running around, huge tree spreading through two rooms.

An hour later, the tree was cut to the right height, it was up in the stand, the needles mostly cleaned up, and three little helpers running from end to end in the house. A little while later, all nine of us were seated at the table, enjoying a family lunch together.

Now, the day is coming to an end. The meat pies for Christmas Eve are baking in the oven, the laundry is almost done, and it is time to take a break. Phew! So tired, but how much fun to have them all together for a bit today.