Saturday, December 02, 2006
Trimming the Tree
There are no hard and fast rules about trimming the tree at our house. It is usually done in stages and with various attitudes in tow.
This year it began last night. Well, actually, it began Thursday night. My husband and I sat up the tree and put on the lights.
This was after a trip earlier this week to find a new tree. We ventured out, youngest son along, to at the minimum of 4 stores looking for a new artificial tree - preferably one that is pre-lit and skinnier than our current one. The trip was futile. The skinny trees in town were pathetic. We decided (once again) to keep our current tree.
As I was saying, Thursday night my husband and I set up the tree, stringing lights as we went. With approximately one half of the tree left to assemble, we remembered that we had tossed several sets of lights last year. Our tree barely survived the season last year sporting several strands of lights that worked when it was put up - well, they worked for about 2 days. The tree came down quickly last year. I could not stand it!!!
The lack of lights sent my husband out - in the snow storm - in search of more strands to finish the project. Eventually, the tree was assembled and lit. We were done for the night, settling in for a family movie night. (Coach Carter - I would recommend it.)
Last night we went to watch "Miracle on 34th Street" at our community theater. Being a completely impartial person, I would say that all my friends stole the scenes they were in! Especially M who spoke Dutch to Santa!!! After the show we ventured to Starbuck's (only because DaVinci's was closed) and back home. It seemed like the perfect time for a little tree trimming.
Everyone was on board, except for my oldest son. We did get him to at least read the nail ornament poem as my youngest son hung the ornament. We decided to set his ornaments aside - I was sure he would want to hang them in the morning.
I was mistaken. This morning he still wanted absolutely nothing to do with trimming the tree. His ornaments were patiently waiting on the table, along with several others that did not make it to the tree last night.
I prayed for him/cursed him, "May you so be blessed," and began finishing the tree myself.
It was a walk through his life for me. I hung all the baby ornaments and the ages one through five ornaments. I hung the firefighter panda ornament - the fire truck had visited his school that year. . . and he had called 911 soon afterwards. The baseball playing bear ornament from the first year he had played t-ball. Then there was Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, and Tim Duncan. Harry Potter and ornaments made in school. And then there was that stinkin' OU ornament he insisted on one year - I hung it in the back.
As I finished off the tree with the satin balls I was taken back to my childhood. My mom would spray our satin balls with hairspray to keep them looking smooth. I trim mine when necessary, but on occasion I do think of spraying them.
Trimming our tree is always a walk down memory lane. I hope your memories are sweet and that the ones you are making with your loved ones will be also.
simple faith
There are no hard and fast rules about trimming the tree at our house. It is usually done in stages and with various attitudes in tow.
This year it began last night. Well, actually, it began Thursday night. My husband and I sat up the tree and put on the lights.
This was after a trip earlier this week to find a new tree. We ventured out, youngest son along, to at the minimum of 4 stores looking for a new artificial tree - preferably one that is pre-lit and skinnier than our current one. The trip was futile. The skinny trees in town were pathetic. We decided (once again) to keep our current tree.
As I was saying, Thursday night my husband and I set up the tree, stringing lights as we went. With approximately one half of the tree left to assemble, we remembered that we had tossed several sets of lights last year. Our tree barely survived the season last year sporting several strands of lights that worked when it was put up - well, they worked for about 2 days. The tree came down quickly last year. I could not stand it!!!
The lack of lights sent my husband out - in the snow storm - in search of more strands to finish the project. Eventually, the tree was assembled and lit. We were done for the night, settling in for a family movie night. (Coach Carter - I would recommend it.)
Last night we went to watch "Miracle on 34th Street" at our community theater. Being a completely impartial person, I would say that all my friends stole the scenes they were in! Especially M who spoke Dutch to Santa!!! After the show we ventured to Starbuck's (only because DaVinci's was closed) and back home. It seemed like the perfect time for a little tree trimming.
Everyone was on board, except for my oldest son. We did get him to at least read the nail ornament poem as my youngest son hung the ornament. We decided to set his ornaments aside - I was sure he would want to hang them in the morning.
I was mistaken. This morning he still wanted absolutely nothing to do with trimming the tree. His ornaments were patiently waiting on the table, along with several others that did not make it to the tree last night.
I prayed for him/cursed him, "May you so be blessed," and began finishing the tree myself.
It was a walk through his life for me. I hung all the baby ornaments and the ages one through five ornaments. I hung the firefighter panda ornament - the fire truck had visited his school that year. . . and he had called 911 soon afterwards. The baseball playing bear ornament from the first year he had played t-ball. Then there was Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, and Tim Duncan. Harry Potter and ornaments made in school. And then there was that stinkin' OU ornament he insisted on one year - I hung it in the back.
As I finished off the tree with the satin balls I was taken back to my childhood. My mom would spray our satin balls with hairspray to keep them looking smooth. I trim mine when necessary, but on occasion I do think of spraying them.
Trimming our tree is always a walk down memory lane. I hope your memories are sweet and that the ones you are making with your loved ones will be also.
simple faith
# posted by simple faith : 7:59 PM
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We put up my Christmas tree this weekend too! But I did find one at Hobby Lobby that I liked and bought. It took us several days too, and I'm still finding ornaments and am wondering just where they'll go on our already full (even though it's a good foot and half taller then our old one, but I guess because it's skinner it's about the same). I'm proud of your husband for braving the winter weather just to get you more lights. Did he take his new truck or your van? LOL!!!
I understand the ornament dilemma. Even as I long for a new skinnier tree, I am wondering if even half of our ornaments would fit.
My husband is awesome!! You know, I have no idea what he drove.....
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My husband is awesome!! You know, I have no idea what he drove.....
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