our (unofficial) christmas tree lighting

Last night we decorated the Christmas tree. 

The kids were soooo excited.  We raced through homework, dinner, and baths, and were finally ready to decorate!  Grace donned a Christmas nightgown for the occasion.  Carter has completely grown out of every single pajama he owns.  This is as close as we could get to Christmas pj's. 

Carter was the bead holder, Grace the bead hander, Ray the bead stringer.  

We had to wrap things up in time for bed, so our tree is not quite finished.  This year's tree is thinner than out past trees, no doubt a reflection of the ridiculous summer.  We feel like it still needs something, but we're not quite sure what.  I'm sure we'll figure it out and have proper Christmas tree pics soon.  And, I have no idea what happened to Grace's Christmas nightgown.  I just noticed it was missing.