Farm tree hunting, elf on the shelf, Silver Dollar City and more! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

WARNING: At the bottom of this post is a picture of my smooshed big toe/toenail. If you are squeamish you might not want to look at it. You might be wondering, "Why would she post something so grotesque?" For posterity. In case my "new" nail grows back all funky, my children and grandchildren can look back at this and remember why it looks so funky. More on this a little later...

So, Christmas is just 10 days away, and the Wade kids are excited. I am really trying not to think about the impending post-Christmas blues (and the taking down of the decorations - gah!) and enjoy these final days before Christmas. This holiday season has truly been magical and fun and exciting (and exhausting) and all the things it should be with small children in the house.

Each year we put up a "faux" tree in our living room, adorned with all sorts of beautiful ornaments and lights. This is where we put our Christmas presents. The kids each have their own little trees in their bedrooms with their own ornaments, which we add to each year. But there's just something about a real tree. When I was a kid we always went out and cut down a real tree at Christmas, and over the past couple of years it has become a tradition for us to do the same thing. Last year our farm tree was a little too big, so this year we decided to pick out a smaller, Charlie Brown-size tree. Isn't it cute?

Here's the farm tree inside, with lights and candy canes. The perfect size! Popcorn and construction paper chain garland coming soon.

Pop and Gigi have the biggest snowman ever on their back deck. So festive!

Finn continues to have amazing bedhead. This morning it was really awesome.

I just love this picture. Matt took the kids on a four-wheeler ride to the creek over the weekend. While they were there he sat Lola up on this little bluff and snapped this picture. The outfit: all her. She loooves to pick out her own clothes and shoes these days and rarely lets me have a say. Sometimes I cringe, but often I admire her funky style. (Funny aside: Matt said Lola was totally freaked out while sitting here. Not because she thought she might fall, but because she thought there was a bear behind her. Wild imagination, this one has.)

Our elf on the shelf, Blueberry, showed up on the morning of Nov. 30. Some days we just find him perched on a high spot, like atop the Christmas tree or on the mantel. One morning we found him in the kitchen, where he had apparently gotten into the Cheerios and left this message for the kids. Tee hee. This is our third Christmas with Blueberry, and so far it has been the best yet. Every morning when Lola gets up (usually around 5:15 these days - yawn), the first thing she does is search the house for Blueberry. 

Last week we took the kids to Silver Dollar City. We took Lola at Christmastime last year, but this was Finn's first trip. They had a blast. Finn was able to ride most of the rides; kids have to be 36 inches to ride the kiddie rides, and he is 36.5. He loved the teacups and the flying elephants and the little pirate ships that go around really fast! However, you know the ride where you sit in a big ship and it rocks back and forth, back and forth? He hated that. He gripped the bar so tightly with his little hands and kept saying, "Stop! Stop!" It was so sad. I wanted to yell at the ride operator to STOP RIGHT NOW! MY BABY BOY DOESN'T LIKE THIS! But, I resisted, and he survived. Needless to say, that was Finn's last ride of the day. Matt and Lola rode the giant swing (see below, they're toward the back and at the bottom of this picture). Finn loves to swing at home, but after the pirate ship ordeal, we decided not to take him on this. Maybe next year.

What kid falls asleep in a candy store? This one.

Lola couldn't wait to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what she wants for Christmas. Yet when it was her turn the big guy made her go speechless. (A Christmas miracle!) The only time she spoke was to correct Santa when he called Finn "Ben." I was standing off to the side, while Matt took this picture. Matt said he overheard some people behind him say they thought these two were twins, but then they realized Finn is smaller, so they must not be... I guess they really do look a lot alike!

We ran into some other Wade kids at SDC. We all rode the train together after dark, which is one of my favorite parts of the SDC Christmas visit. Madison and Maddox were fearless when it came to the rides!

And finally. Here is what my right big toe looks like now. Take a good, close look because me thinks in a matter of days the toenail will be gone. (Gasp!) I know I'm being a little bit dramatic about this, but guys, it hurts. I mean, it really hurts. And I work at a marina and wear flip-flops often. I enjoy going for walks in the park (when time permits). I just got a new pair of boots and have only worn them ONE TIME this winter. And this little mishap has put a damper on my shoe wearing and park walking. All I can say is, thank goodness it isn't flip-flop season, although ironically, flip-flops are about the only shoe I can wear right now. So, here's what happened: Matt totally dropped an end table on my toe. (Just kidding.) Actually, I dropped an end table on my toe. What followed after that was blinding pain, every curse word imaginable and me nearly fainting. And I am not a wimp. Really, I'm not. Note to self and others: Don't drop anything on your toe, ever.