The Month of Bernie

I had planned to do the 30 days of gratefulness thing in November - with stories, pics, etc.  Obviously, that didn't work out so well.  I was organizing my November pictures this weekend, and realized I have a ton of them.  There were many events within a relatively short time period.  This task of going through the pictures got me to reflect on the fact that I have an incredibly full life, and although it can seem overwhelming at times, I am truly thankful for all of it. One of the people I am most thankful for is Bernie.  I wish I could say that I did all of the things you are supposed to when you have a great marriage - say I love you everyday, never go to bed angry, etc.  Between work and the kids and everything else going on, I feel like sometimes I barely have time to ask him how his day was. He is truly my partner in life or in crime depending on the context - LOL.  So, I am officially declaring December "the month of Bernie."

Our Elf on the Shelf is "Lewis."  Jack named him that last year when we took him out of the box.  For those of you that don't know, the elf is Santa's helper.  Lewis watches what happens during the day and flies to the North Pole at night to tell Santa of the day's events.  Lewis' reports help Santa determine whether Jack has been naughty or nice. Lewis returns from the North Pole before Jack wakes up in the morning.  Lewis is in a different spot everyday (so long as I remember to move him).  Jack wakes up and goes on a mission to find him.

For the 24 days that Lewis will be with us in December (he flies back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve where he stays until next Thanksgiving or Jack's birthday - whichever comes second - LOL), he will help me highlight and appreciate all of the things that my wonderful husband does for our family. 

In the morning, Jack will find Lewis in our Christmas tree.

Bernie's family used an artificial tree growing up, as did my family for many years.  In my family, I am not sure whose idea it was to get a real Christmas tree (it may have been mine), but once we started the tradition, it was one I knew I wanted to keep.  Every year we all go together on the hunt for the perfect tree, cut it down, bring it home, put it up and decorate it.  Real trees come with hassels that fake trees do not.  They have sap, they are not always the perfect shape, you have to water them, the pine needles shed, and you actually have to get the tree to stay upright in the stand.  Trying to get the tree straight and secure the past few years has been the most challenging and frustrating part.  We definitely need a new tree stand, so if you have one that you really like, please tell me what it is. 

When Jack was one, I questioned the wisdom of getting a real tree and we opted for a nice pre-lit artificial one.  For me it wasn't the same, and the tree has been in a box in our basement ever since. I'm not sure Bernie is entirely sold on the "real tree" tradition, but he goes along with it anyway.  It is important to me, and I think for Nick too, and someday maybe it will be for Jack and Vivian.  Although Jack does want to know why we are not using the tree in the basement.

It would have been way easier just to open the artificial tree, put it together with its three parts and call it a day.  The tree is just one example of many, of how Bernie does what he can to make us happy even if it is to his detriment.  The tree looks great!  I really appreciate all of the time he spent today making sure it was stright, secure, and evenly balaced with oraments :-)