Week 48, It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I know, I know...I didn't even wait one week after Thanksgiving to start proclaiming Christmas!  I just really love this entire season.  The last third of the year is by far my favorite!  This year's Christmas season has already proved special.  It is the first time we've "trimmed the tree" together as a family.  It was just a lovely family event, and I will cherish it always.  The boys were so excited, and they loved seeing ornaments that they remembered from last year.  Anyway, take a look at this wonderful first for our family, starting with a video of Tommy :)

Big shocker here--Ethan getting into mischief from the very start!

The boys were so excited when the lights came on...well, most of them anyway  ;)

Ethan decided to take a little breather

Ethan was pretty fascinated with the tinsel!

Isn't  he just adorable?!

Keep trying little buddy!

Daddy hanging the ceremonial first ornament...

representing Hufflepuff House!

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Ethan admiring their handiwork!

Someone is pretty proud of himself!

Tommy was being very careful <3

All of their favorites are at their level haha

What a cute Father/Son moment here <3

"Look, but don't touch"...repeat...and often :)

My three wonderful guys

Ethan admiring the tree

CHEESE!!  (ignore the spilled food all over his sweater!)

Great action shot of the tree trimming!

haha, I love Tommy's "oooohhh" face here

Tommy posing by the tree before going up for bed :)

Me and my wonderful husband

The finished product!

My favorite tree ever <3

So, even though it might've looked like Christmas on the inside, it sure hasn't been feeling like Christmas outside!  We've had some really warm weather for December, so I decided to take advantage and take the kids to the park :)

These boys love to swing--just like their Daddy used to!

We decided to continue the fun later on that evening with a famous "dance party" with Daddy!!

Dance Party...Dance, Dance Party!!

Ethan cutting a little jig :)

I think they were having some fun ;)

Tommy being a "stinker" and messing with Mommy's Christmas present--framed ornaments that chronicling our lives over the past 5 years!

Ethan acting like he didn't start the whole ornament swatting thing!

Who needs pants when you're just having some family fun at the house?!

So, as you can see, we had a very fun-filled week, but for Laura's sake I had to include a couple of "pouty Tommy" pictures!

Note the chocolate on his mouth--this was post "splish-splash" after making some  Christmas cookies :)

Me:  asking Tommy to do something
Tommy:  I want to snuggle-buggle with Daddy right now!

Meanwhile in Ethanland...

My happy camper :)

Finally, as promised, here are the Catchings Family Christmas Pictures, circa 2012 :)

How stinkin' cute are they in these outfits?!?!

SWAG like a BOSS!

I love a good hardy Tommy laugh!!

Sooooo glad we got a few good ones of the boys together!

This is just so Ethan...that's all I can say <3

Again, 100% Ethan--giving the laid-back thumbs up!

My favorite family photo to date <3 <3 <3 <3

My handsome big guy

I love that this one captured him really having a great time

Tommy did an AMAZING job at Portrait Innovations--we were there for 2 hours, and he was cheesing it up the whole time!

My cute little man :)

Don't just stand there, bust a move!!

"Good one, Mom!"

My loves

Ethan's not sure about this one...

and, he definitely wasn't cheesing it up the entire 2 hours :)

love, love, love this one!!

My favorite post-wedding photo of me and Davey

although, this one is a close second!  I love my funny man!!

Life Lesson:  Spend a little dough on the things that matter most!

So, this certainly isn't one of my more "serious" life lessons, but I definitely think it's important.  Don't get me wrong, I am well aware of how expensive things are these days, and how tight most people's budgets are--including ours!  And, let me also say that different things are important to different people, so (as always) I am speaking for myself here!  Here are a few things that are really important to me--they are also things we've spent a fair amount of money on, and things that I've never regretted!  So, the first one is professional pictures.  Now, I love a good candid outside shot, but I just think there is something special about having a "photo shoot"!  Pictures are something that you'll have FOREVER, and something I've noticed over these past few years is that a picture really helps me remember the actual moment.  Secondly, we do it up for our kids' birthdays.  It's a big deal to me--every day I have with them is precious, but the day they were brought into this world is extra special.  And, not to be morbid, but seriously no one knows how many birthdays they will be able to celebrate.  Finally, spend some money on traditions.  I think there's something pretty magical about family traditions--they provide a sense of unity, comfort, and stability throughout a family's entire life. The photo ornaments, for example, were not exactly cheap, but it is something that we can add on to every year.  I can just envision all of us in 30 years looking back on about 100 different framed ornaments and laughing at them with Tommy and Ethan, and God willing, their families :)