O Tennenbaum, O Tennenbaum...

We got our Christmas tree yesterday from my dad's Christmas tree farm in Blind River (Meadow Sweet Farm). It is such a little tree! My philosophy is that I should not be tall enough to put the star on top of the tree without a step-stool.... but this one's so tiny that I think I just might have to have another "first" this year! We have it up in our kick-butt swivel stand for $50 from Canadian Tire that we got last year... it is probably the best $50 someone has ever spent on us... just kidding (it was a gift). It really is easy and simple though... We don't have the decorations on it yet because I am really busy right now with school work and so I'll wait till Wednesday night when my art portfolio will be submitted and my geology exam conquered!!!

What are your Christmas traditions? Our family watches "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" on Christmas Eve & goes Christmas light driving.... my mom always reads us "The Night Before Christmas" from this cute little mouse book we have.... the mice sleep in little walnut shells 'n' stuff.

I am really trying to cut down on Christmas costs this year because although I LOVE giving... I don't think Christmas should be about blowing your wallet. After I read The Diary of Anne Frank recently, I realized how simple gifts can be whether or not you are poor or wealthy, living in a war or a time of prosperity. Why not give your brother a $10 paperback novel instead of an $80 watch... isn't it just as special? Why not give your mother a really nice mixing bowl or a new CD..... spend a few bucks and make it just as special as buying everyone $50 or more worth of gifts.... like I usually used to do anyway. I still spend that much on my mom, but only because I see so much stuff I know she would love that I can't resist! I should probably save some of it and just give it to her next year though!

We cut back on Christmas cards this year too..... sent about 40 instead of the usual 100 (seriously) since it costs 50 cents per card and almost $1 for each card to the U.S. - crazee huh? i don't know how much longer I will be able to keep up the tradition even though I really love it, if postal prices keep rising the way they have been. Anyway... I will post our Christmas letter on our website for you to read if you didn't get one, and here is the picture we took for it .... Enjoy & have a merry Christmas if I don't post again until then...

Virginia**