This Year's Christmas Spirit

"Let's hurry up and get this done," John said as we started putting ornaments on the tree.
And I couldn't have agreed more.  

The lights went up the night before the ornaments.  The tree had been sitting naked for a couple of days.  It's not our normal way of welcoming the advent season.

The decorations are limited this year: a {finally} decorated tree, a few manger scenes, and some free greenery {that is still sitting on the front porch, waiting to be used}.

The mantel, where us ladies can have some real decorating fun is a looking something like this:

It's just plain sad-until we realize what we're enjoying instead:

Our Christmas Cheer is replaced with Newborn Cheer, which is like trading one miracle for another.

Newborn cheer with a splash of Toddler Spirit and we're doing just fine.

Happy holidays?  Indeed.