This year I think Lenea (almost 6) and Asher (almost 4) were the most excited about it. Lenea was so sweet she said, "Putting up the Christmas tree makes me jump for joy!" and Asher kept looking at after it was set up asking if it would still be there in the morning, so mesmerized with the lights.
Asher kept putting ornaments on the same branches.. That is okay, I went back later and rearranged them a bit, keeping the more fragile ones near the top as well.
Here was my very excited, almost 6 year old...
Our decorations won't win a prize photo on a magazine. They are simple and out-dated. I think those trees in magazines and fancy stores are beautiful, but they have never been my style. I prefer Christmas time to be traditions (which for me includes the same old ornaments from years ago), memories and most importantly of Christ. So I believe 90 % of our ornaments have a special meaning behind them. I also got rid of most of the decorations that really emphasize Santa. I know many people do Santa and that is there thing, but it hasn't been our thing for over 18 years. We began doing stockings again last year, which the kids know Mom and Dad fill; and we talk about St. Nicholas. However, our children all know Santa is not real. I remind them to be discreet to our friends who might celebrate that way, as it the parents choice in how they lead their children and families. However, we have always emphasized honesty. When I realized I was actually lying to my child and putting Santa ahead of Jesus we stopped playing the game, and haven't missed it at all. We didn't want them to think we might have also been lying about the Lord Jesus' birth as well.
So back to the decorations, I do buy new ornaments for all the kids each year. I try to buy something meaningful for the previous year we just finished. This year they each got a very pretty hand embroidered Chinese ornament, except I forgot to buy myself one.
We will send their boxes of ornaments with them when they start their own families. Then they will have sweet memories to begin sharing with their children. And I will have room to buy some new ornaments for Jay and Me!
Our ornaments include some strange looking ornaments, adorable hand- made ornaments by children, special ornaments my precious grandmother painstakingly sewed by hand, even some broken ones that are too meaningful to me to rid of but I never seem to make time to fix either. Here is one of the precious ones my grandmother made the year before she died almost 22 years ago.
Each of her ornaments were hand sewn with various beading and ribbons and lace, with her very arthritic hands. Each of them had two different sides, and each with unique designs. I am still in love with them. I think I have about 15 or 20 different ones, plus the ones I have given my children. She also made birds that are just so sweet. You know one thing that I love too, is that if I close my eyes and take a big smell I can actually smell her on them. I know it seems strange but it is true. I am thankful for the Lord giving me that "realness" of her.
I have made a few in my day but stopped a while back when time became too filled with other things. I plan to return to this hobby again, maybe when I am grandmother. I know she would be happy to know that.
Well after our tree was complete, we realized that it was a bit lop-sided. Afterall, we have had this tree for I think 8 years now, it was a half off special at Walmart, we paid $50 I think. But Jay put a little something under the weak side to lift it up. Unfortunately, 2 days later it toppled over! Thankfully, no one got hurt.
So off to hunt for a new Christmas tree. When I was young we did live trees. Jay and I bought live tress until we moved to AZ 20 years ago. Most people in AZ don't buy live trees because the trees there are so dry and more of a fire hazard than usual. Now since moving to CO we have learned that myself and most of our children have pine tree allergies, so live is out. I miss the wonderful smell!
I found a pretty tree, not as tall as I wanted but pretty enough and the lights are already on the tree. I could not believe how much they have gone up in price..On sale at Lowes I spend over $150 for this tree and it is much smaller than the one that fell down. So the kids got to decorate two trees this year.
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