Getting the tree and Temple Square

One thing about being out of town during Thanksgiving is that I feel like I am so behind when it comes to getting the tree and decorating for Christmas. It didn't take long to pick out the perfect tree and this year we did it with no coats and we all ended up taking our jackets off. So opposite from last year where we picked the first tree just to get back in the car it was that freezing. Tj calls this "moms tree" and I like to decorate it solo. I don't normally feel bad since we as a family put up a big fake tree in the basement and let the kids take over decorating it. However this year Tallie was so super sad when she came in from helping Tj with lights outside and saw that it was completely decorated and she didn't get to help. Next year I will let them all help...a little :) I used to set up my parents huge tree and completely decorate and put lights on it while my mom would be doing errands or something. Sometimes I would ditch school when I knew she would be gone just to surprise her when she came home. I had never really stopped to think whether or not she actually liked to decorate the tree and was sad when I did it all without her. Now I feel bad. But now my dad always bribes me with a flight home just to put up their tree since neither one really cares to do it anymore. Anyways I had to document a picture of me and the Christmas tree barefoot outside just to capture the crazy nice weather. And I know that I will look back on these pictures at my leggings and think "What the crap was I wearing??". That night we took the kids to Temple Square and Tessa and the girls came along. We thought it would be fun to ride the tracks up since we had never done that with the kids. They thought that was fun. We hadn't been to see the lights for a few years because it has always been so cold and seems like we always had a newborn we didn't want to take out in the cold. So we thought we would start our tradition up again...but we changed our minds. Maybe we will go only go every few years. It was so crazy and packed and crowded and the kids just complained and wanted to come home since the minute we got there. The ride home was also an experience  due to a late train and too many people and tired hungry kids. Oh well, we did try to do a fun Christmas activity but sometimes family time for our family is best at home.