Christmas Tree!

We put up our Christmas tree last weekend! Growing up I usually had fake trees but last year Justin talked me into a real tree. It was such an incredible experience, I will never go back! Sure I swept and vacuumed almost daily to keep the pine needles at bay, but the smell is worth all of the trouble. Every time I walk in our door I can't help but smile at how wonderful our little home smells:) We wanted a big tree so we figured we'd better get it while I could still lug somewhat large items up the stairs. Notice the star has to bend a little to fit.

Like many, I absolutely LOVE Christmas! I love the decorations and the food, but mostly I love gathering with our families to celebrate the birth of our Savior. Oh, and I will forever love the giving and receiving of gifts:) We have finished most of our Christmas shopping, just two gifts left to buy! I am usually done by now but we have been super busy trying to clean out the soon-to-be nursery and finishing up school for the semester. I am in the process of finding a good long-term sub for my maternity leave. It's been tougher than I thought to find someone with any sort of background in Anatomy. I am being pretty picky but I really love my kids and want them to have a great experience.

Justin is working hard on the crib in between patients and the cadaver instruction job. He has been fortunate to do an entire mouth reconstruction on one of his patients, an opportunity that third year students are not often afforded. We spent some time at his school after our Bradley birthing class on Friday night pouring up models, then he went back all day Saturday to make 8 temporary crowns! It was really cool to see the lab where he does all of his behind-the-scenes work and watch him go through the process of making models:)