Step 1. MEET SANTA. Look jolly and cheerful.
Mmm, fail. There's always next year.
If it were up to Jason, we'd go like the Griswolds from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and cut a tree the size of a small building with our bare hands. Thankfully, it's not up to Jason and there are lots of Home Depots around that take care of that. So off we went last Sunday - Jason had his pocket knife, his gloves, and his "weekend Dad shirt" on and he meant business. Ashton of course had no idea what was happening but was thrilled to find branches, a very long string and some mud to play around in. Home Depot = fun for everyone.
Step 2(b): DECORATE THE TREE. Help with the lights, as long as "help" is defined as wrapping them around your body and tugging at the strands so Dad has to redo everything.
Step 2(c): MARVEL AT THE TREE.
Step 3: STALK THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. Every night this week, except tonight because it was too cold, I've plopped Ashton in his car for a post-dinner, pre-bedtime drive. There are so many great decorations and we go around, Ashton points and says, "DA!" (what else is new) and in general we get into the holiday spirit. Except one house has those blinking moving reindeer that scare Ashton to bits (not pictured).
Step 4: PRETEND TO HIDE IN THE CLOSET BUT REALLY, LOOK FOR PRESENTS.
Step 5: EAT SNACKS.Wait a minute. That's not really christmassy but nonetheless, an important step in any process.
Step 6: LISTEN TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC. We have a few favorite Pandora stations that are on pretty much every waking minute. This is hard to take a picture of though so you'll just have to imagine it.
Step 7: GO THROUGH ALL YOUR STUFF AND MAKE A LIST OF WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE FOR SANTA.
This doesn't take long; it's a short list.
Step 8: LOOK THE PART AT ALL TIMES. Elves are everywhere, watching.
STEP 9: JINGLE ALL THE WAY. For Ashton, this is what that looks like.
Step 10: Take the joy and pass it on :)
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