Every year I have a picture in my mind of the family decorating the Christmas tree. It goes something like this: The tree is magically put together ahead of time. (I think an elf must do that part.) One by one, we take out the ornaments and pass them from person to person admiring each of them and telling stories about their origin. There is music playing in the background and we start singing to some of the songs. I smile and find it charming that one of the kids has put all the ornaments on one branch. That's so cute, I tell myself. After all the ornaments are on the tree, we sit together in the living room and sip the hot cocoa that I made (from scratch) in our holiday themed mugs. We also have those delightful homemade marshmallows that I saw Martha make on t.v. Everyone says, "These marshmallows are the best."
That is not exactly how it happens (ever). Here is how it really goes: The tree takes longer than expected to assemble so the kids become restless and begin hurting each other with parts of it. Once the tree is finally assembled, everyone fights over what ornaments belong to them (usually at least two of the kids are crying as a result). Ornaments that bear any resemblance to candy are eaten by the smaller children. (We haven't had glass ornaments or ornaments with hooks since 2006). We forget to turn on the Christmas music. All of the ornaments are put on the VERY BOTTOM branches and we are not allowed to rearrange any or we are hit with the wrath of Luke. I try not to let this bother me, but IT DOES. Everyone gradually wanders off since I didn't have time to shave the chocolate for the homemade hot chocolate. And I didn't buy any holiday themed mugs.
My new tree skirt! It matches the stockings.
We put the stockings up with duct tape again this year. I highly recommend it (unless you have a wood mantle).
This is my favorite new decoration. Felted wool "goody gumdrop" garland. I better stop calling it "goody gumdrop" garland or someone might climb on a chair and try to eat that too!
That is not exactly how it happens (ever). Here is how it really goes: The tree takes longer than expected to assemble so the kids become restless and begin hurting each other with parts of it. Once the tree is finally assembled, everyone fights over what ornaments belong to them (usually at least two of the kids are crying as a result). Ornaments that bear any resemblance to candy are eaten by the smaller children. (We haven't had glass ornaments or ornaments with hooks since 2006). We forget to turn on the Christmas music. All of the ornaments are put on the VERY BOTTOM branches and we are not allowed to rearrange any or we are hit with the wrath of Luke. I try not to let this bother me, but IT DOES. Everyone gradually wanders off since I didn't have time to shave the chocolate for the homemade hot chocolate. And I didn't buy any holiday themed mugs.
My new tree skirt! It matches the stockings.
We put the stockings up with duct tape again this year. I highly recommend it (unless you have a wood mantle).
This is my favorite new decoration. Felted wool "goody gumdrop" garland. I better stop calling it "goody gumdrop" garland or someone might climb on a chair and try to eat that too!
3 comments:
Hey Bloggie! I didn't know you did this~fun!! I agree about the decorating...I have a very romanticized idea of what it will be like every year with the kids....the reality is much different :)
Haha! I love it! That is so very very perfect. I love the part about the kiddies putting the decorations on one branch and you thinking, "That's so cute"...you know I couldn't handle that either! Oh, I miss you guys! And where do you get felted wool? Everyone talks about it, but I don't get it!!
Sounds strangely familiar.
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