Run, Run, Rudolph!

Well, Christmas is upon us. When did that happen? Yesterday it seems like we were getting ready for our big trip and now we only have 9 days until Christmas! It makes my head spin. I prefer the years when you're mentally prepared for Christmas in October. Hard to describe but, without doubt, my own fault for just getting the Christmas tree up this past weekend.

Justin and I had a blast getting the house ready for Christmas. To start at the beginning, my car was acting up. So Justin mustered up the energy to figure out what was wrong and fix it (only took 20 minutes). He was so energized with his mega accomplishment that he came inside, fixed a door, a door knob, removed a shelf, and pulled out the Christmas tree. He was on fire! And I was overjoyed! That doorknob has been broken for 7 months! Below he's repairing the wall after the shelf was removed.

Men in the Archie family have a few select duties around the holidays. Wear coordinating colors (if the wife so requests), carry around bags and bags of merchandise at overly crowded malls without complaint, and...fluff the Christmas tree! Like most traditions, there is no telling how it started but Justin has definitely risen to the occasion. Despite the short in the bottom string of lights, our new 9 ft. tree (thanks to Justin's lovely parents) is very well fluffed.

Below are just a few of my favorite ornaments on the tree this year...

And one from our trip to Paris. We bought this one at the Eiffel Tower.

Over the last few years, my sister has bought us some beautiful Clemson Christmas ornaments so we put them on our old tree (the tree Justin proposed to me by). Please ignore the absence of a tree skirt and the blue paint samples on the wall behind, we're a work in progress.

And last, but not least, a little Christmas cheer in other areas of the house.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! From...