I love Christmas because it encompasses not just one (very special and holy) day, but a whole month of exciting preparation and festivities.  Now I’m not talking about the shopping part – that I could do without.  I’m talking about all of the great opportunities there are to celebrate with family and friends, as we joyfully anticipate the birth of Christ.

We kicked off our month with a super-fun outing with friends (as the Little Miss would say, “Yay for the Mugford and Irons families!”) to a Christmas light show at a farm in rural NC…

Complete with a pow-wow with Santa!

“What do you want for Christmas, my dear?
“A Christmas Tree!”

Done.

A few days later, with Grammie along for the ride, we drove out to a farm near Jordan Lake to choose the annual Wright family Christmas tree.

The Little Miss has a knack for being a wee bit cranky during these outings (read about our 2011 tree experience), but we pushed through.  And the Little Mister was his usual jolly self…that is, until he encountered the attack of the kissing Big Sister.

But no toddler-moodiness or baby-teariness is any match for swings, jump houses, and hay rides!

Oh, and there were funny decorative trees to lock your children in!

Just kidding.  Well, sort of.

And the piece de resistance of the month?  Why, the Little Missy’s preschool Christmas performance, of course!

(Type in “wright” to watch the video).

(We tried to arrive early this time, to get a better video-taping-spot.  But sheesh!  Some of those parents must camp-out at the preschool overnight for the prime real estate!)

It was a MERRY month…only to be topped by the day of Christmas itself.  But more on that later!