[ c & m ]: Christmas 2010

The holidays are the time to be festive and to celebrate friends and most of all, family. That's why it also makes this time of year difficult for Mike and Candice because they miss their family so much. We can only be glad for things like FaceTime and video chat to see one another, and for us to pretend that we are with them, eating meals, opening gifts, and sharing memories, like we so wish we could!

We try to do our best around here, making our annual ornaments for the tree, cooking our own Christmas meal, and celebrating with local friends! This year, the menu was ham, cranberry sauce, creamed spinach, and yams. Much to Lola's dismay, no Filipino food (I will try next year, Lola!).

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Our Christmas tree story:
We bought our Christmas tree from a local tree grower (next year, we hope to go to farm to chop it down ourselves, but we'll see). He knew his trees. He loved his trees. I think he looooved his trees.

Mike: "So, these pine trees..."
Serious but jolly Christmas tree farmer: "They're not pine trees, they're fir trees."
Mike: "OK, what's the difference between these fir trees; like between this Douglas fir and this Noble fir?"
Serious but jolly Christmas tree farmer: "Well, they're different species."
Mike (thinking to himself), "No shit." Says out loud: "Well, what's the practical difference?"

Serious but jolly Christmas tree farmer informed us that the Douglas had more thicker needles and a more aromatic scent. Awesome. Done deal. He also "massaged" our tree to get rid of loose needles and tied it up in twine. Funny guy, obviously passionate about what he does, and the best tree we've ever bought. Even when it wasn't watered for a couple days when we visited family, it stayed super healthy and didn't dry out for weeks! O Tannenbaum!
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Gifts for us: