While I would love to have our own house decked out for the holidays and even get a tree, we are forgoing it this year since we will be spending the holidays down in Los Angeles with our families. I hope to get a tree though next year and start a tradition with picking out a tree, just like we did when we were kids, except my dad would have us wait till the very last minute (like on his birthday - the 23rd!) so we can get the best deals. Much to the chagrin of my mom.

The houses above are from a neighborhood in Alameda, CA. Jax kept asking if we were going to go inside each of the houses. It was a nice memory for me, especially since this particular day (Sunday night, dreading that Monday was just around the corner) I was in a bit of a mood and funk. I couldn't will myself to get motivated to do much of anything. Thankfully, Charlie convinced me to get outside for a walk around our block - and by the time we were all outside, the kids bundled up and in their footed jammies, I said - well, we're all ready to go, might as well get in the a car and go to see the lights. And so we did.

I remember, as a kid, our parents taking us out for a drive to visit neighborhoods that would get all decked out for the holidays. It was one of our family traditions. So I guess, this means this can be one of our traditions too.