my birthday celebration

We have made it a family tradition to decorate the Christmas tree on my birthday. Our daughter Miranda also sets up 'the church village' just days before, so when our granddaughter Emolyn walks in the front door, she sees it for the first time on my birthday. For she knows she is about to take part in a snowstorm that will suddenly blanket the entire village. Although we have to remind her often that it better not snow on the railroad tracks, or else Pop Pop's N gauge train will not be able to travel throughout the village.

This year we set up 'the village' on one of the counter tops I got on Craig's List, that will eventually be installed in Randy's office. (so I can get my 6 ft. banquet tables back!)

Love that row of festive mailboxes and the kids putting up the town flag...

... and Randy playing with his N gauge train that he's had for over 40 years.

I set up the tripod for a quick family picture and thankfully Elsie kept looking at the camera 

as it beeped for 10 seconds.

Emolyn ooh'd 'n aah'd with every ornament she pulled from the boxes.

I don't know what got Elsie so tickled, but she seems pretty satisfied with herself.

Shawn's favorite is the Sugar Bear ornament that came free in a box of Sugar Smacks cereal in 1990. You squeeze the bear's tummy and it plays Jingle Bells. Well, one year the music stopped. Poor little guy. So we gathered around Sugar Bear and performed open tummy surgery. I took my seam ripper and opened his tummy... Randy removed the old battery... Shawn replaced it with a new battery (which cost $8.00!)... and I slip-stitched him back up. He was good as new! Sugar Bear lives on! 

Oh my gosh! I just saw THIS on eBay. 

We ended the evening over Schwann's Andes Mint Creme Pie complete with candles and the usual Happy Birthday 4-part harmony rendition. Pretty darn awesome!
And then it occurred to us that next year 8 month old twins will be joining in on the festivities! Oh my gosh, I can't imagine!