It's beginning to look a lot like...

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care—and the rest of our Christmas decorations are up too.

We started last weekend when we put up “Snowflake” in the front yard. He’s one of those giant, inflatable snowmen—making ours the cheesiest house on the street.

But the kids love him. And the truth is Kris and I think he’s pretty cool too.

This is actually our second year with Snowflake (Nolan named him) in our front yard. He and I actually went out to buy him on Thanksgiving Day last year. I couldn’t believe I was in a Wal-Mart on Thanksgiving. I think I actually apologized to the clerk for being there and therefore requiring him to be working.

Kris put up some more decorations in the house during the week and then today we went to get the tree. We tried someplace new this year—Van Etten’s Tree Farm in Altamont. Kris spotted an ad in the paper stating that we could get any tree, any size for just $23. As a result, our living room is now home to what I’m sure my brother-in-law Mark would describe as a “big ass Christmas tree.”

I’m not sure the tree deserves the coveted “Best Christmas Tree We’ve Ever Had” status, but it is a good tree and Kris really likes it because it has that look like we went out into the woods to find a random tree and cut it down (which sort of is what we did).

We always look forward to cutting down our tree despite the fact it is usually a source of stress. Although this year wasn’t as bad as past years. Instead of grunting my annual vow, “Next year we’re getting a fake tree!” I merely grunted, “Next year we’re getting a pre-cut tree!”

Now that it’s December and the tree is up and some snow is on the ground, I’m finally in the Christmas spirit. More and more each year it seems like the holiday season begins right after Halloween and Thanksgiving is just a footnote. I was very “bah humbug” up until this past week.

Speaking of which, I’m staying up late watching a holiday classic on AMC—the 1951 version of “A Christmas Carol” starring Alistair Sim. I’m a sucker for faithful adaptations of the Dickens tale, and this is one of the best. Another one of my favorites is my double CD of Patrick Stewart reading the book and providing voices for all of the characters.

Merry Christmas to all! God bless us, everyone!