Two things.

1.) I hope the roads to the North Pole aren't bad.  Because the key info. Santa needs for success is in the envelope below. 

2.) Stella loves wearing weird Harry Potter glasses.  Even in her Christmas dress.

The end.

Look Out Fairchilds.

Christmas means one thing in my family. 

Gambling.

I mean, love.

I mean, a love of gambling.  Or of one another? Wait, I'm confused. 

In any event, we love each other - and we often gamble.  Let's just leave it at that. 

There's a particular game that has a bit of history in my family - Acey Ducey.  Fortunes have been won and lost in an instant under the influence of this cruel game of cards.  And I'm only slightly exagerating.

This year, Henry wants to play.  He says if he wins then he can keep all the money, but if other people win - then he can keep his money, right?  Right?  I've got 19 days to try and figure out how to answer that question.

A more important note is that we're PLANNING for the game this year.  And we all know what they say about the best laid plans.  Or something.
Anyway, Exhibit A.

Okay, so at first we weren't really committed to the cause and we only had a few pennies.  NO fun, man.

Now, we're serious.

Once the jar was full, Henry asked, "There's no way we can lose ALL that money, right?" 

I told him that was a much better question for uncle Dave.

Long story short - we're coming for ya, Fairchild derivatives.

Oh Tannenbaum.

We packed up the kids this weekend and took a trip to the mountains (or a hill in the city) to scan the forest (or the lot) for a perfect Christmas tree. 

We always go to the exact same spot and get the exact same kind of tree.  It's because of what we've heard about variety being the spice of life.  You see - Henry doesn't like no spice, man. 

So we go here.  Where I've gone for trees for 14 years.  And where Dave and I together have gone for 10.

And we look around for 5 minutes or so, like we really might try something new...  Because, you just never know.

And then we decide on the same kind of tree we always get. 

But this year it was a little more scragly than in year's past.  Wouldn't Chuck be proud?

Henry checks Dave's work through the sunroof.  

I marvel that it's finally sunny again in Seattle. 

And we all say hi to our newest noble fir.

Then, as families are apt to do, we bring it home, slap some lights on it and have a pretty merry time decorating (see iron man below) in the glow of some fabulous ambient, holiday light.

Wait.  This looks like I'm stalking my own family.  Hmmmm.

Tradition, you rascal, you.  You get me every time.