What is now a great six year tradition, we visited the McCall Family from North Carolina to pick out our grand Christmas tree! Thanks guys! It was too cold for little Georgia to get in the picture (she stayed in the car).
Santa's littlest helper was bright eyed and perky as we decorated the tree with friends from all over the country. Good friend Reagan Carey was there to hold a little elf and introduce her to a few Christmas carols. Special thanks to all for attending and helping us get a great start to Christmas 2008!
Cole gladly put the first ornaments on the tree!
The First Annual Ornament Competition featured some fantastic entrants! We loved Sam & Michelle's entry of heart to heart map and Regan's pipe cleaner, beer cap and hockey stick tree! Russ, ever the Clemson fan, got his orange and blue styled ball (much to the Gamecocks' chagrin!). Dennis got Rob's vote with Corkman! The winner was selected by Cole and it went to Wendy Carey for her stack of monogrammed presents--now all wonderful keepsakes for years to come! Thanks for everyone...including Tia Stephie who flew all the way from Guatemala with her handmade ornament! 
As is custom, we gathered around our 1912 player piano for some rolicking Christmas Carols. It was so much fun singing "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas", "Jingle Bells" and "Rockin Around The Christmas Tree!" Everyone gets a noise maker--or a glass of wine--to help in their singing!
At last the tree was decorated and lit. It was wonderful night to share good cheer!
