After dropping Jake off at the airport the Sunday after Thanksgiving, we stopped by Costco to pick up a Christmas tree. Yes, you can buy your Christmas tree at Costco. As Ruth has asked me in the past, is there anything Costco doesn’t sell?

When we returned home, Derek leapt up into the attic to retrieve Christmas decorations. We affectionately named him Attic Man, our superhero.

With Handel’s Messiah playing in the background, the decorating began. First, Ruth and Molly inspected the garland.

Then the ceremonial first ornament was placed on the tree: football santa. This was Jim’s ornament from childhood.

Speaking of childhood ornaments, “Jimmy 1977” unfortunately did not survive the move to the new house. Alas, when we opened the ornament box, it was in pieces.  So we took a picture of it, then laid it to rest.

The final task was setting up the village and train under the tree.

I love this season!