Well maybe not quite yet, but we are all decorated for Christmas. The tree is up. It’s fake, don’t be a hater. Someday we’ll get a real tree, for now the hand-me-down 6ft tree from my dad is all adorned on the front landing. Lights are up outside too, but it’s not really appropriate to take pictures of those until it there’s actually snow on the ground. Right now it’s raining, close but not quite there.

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And then there’s these guys, my Willow Tree nativity scene. Andy calls them faceless people and thinks they’re creepy…but I love them! I’d been collecting parts of the group for the past few years. I received the wisemen for my birthday, the shepherds for Christmas a few years back, an angel here, an ox and donkey there :) Andy’s family really blew me away last year though when they made the creche for me for Christmas. Andy’s dad and brother discreetly measured the real Willow Tree one at Bon-Ton and came home with the specifications. Then they built it together for me. Andy’s mom picked out the paint and did a rubbing technique for an aged and worn look.

Actually that’s the short version…the funny part is that Andy’s dad is colorblind. And Andy’s mom left the paint in the basement for him to put on the creche. Instead of using the paint she’d set aside for him, he grabbed some electric blue colored paint and brought the finished product back up stairs. Andy’s mom stared at him in horror and asked “Bill what did you do???” They were able to get it all fixed and ‘antique’ looking by the time Christmas rolled around though. When I opened it I thought they’d bought the real Willow Tree one and kind of felt bad because the thing is like $80 and I didn’t want them spending that kind of money on me. When they told me they’d made it (and the adventure that it was) it really made me feel special.

The nativity scene is my favorite Christmas decoration to put up, I look forward to it all year. It’s even better than our fake Christmas tree ;-)