'Tis the Season

The Wilder house has been as busy as the North Pole preparing for Christmas. I can't believe it is only a week away! This is the first year that Margie Grace really "gets it" (well, she sorta gets it -- definitely more so than last year!) and we are having lots of fun experiencing the season with her. Earlier this month we visited Lakeside Tree Farm to cut down our Christmas tree. I've never seen such excitement on a face as when Neil learned that the place is phasing out its business and our years of cutting down a fresh tree are numbered. This is his least favorite family activity and he remains bothered by the fact that he does all the work -- find it, cut it, haul it -- and he still has to pay to take the tree. This year he had a great assistant in MG, who insisted on crawling on the ground and helping work the saw. Watch out, Paul Bunyan! Here are a few photos from our Saturday at Lakeside as well as trimming the tree at home.