Our Tree

As far back as I can remember, decorating the tree has always been one of my most favorite things about Christmas.  To me it symbolizes family, togetherness and celebration of the beginning of a wonderful time of the year.  

When I was a child, and through my early adult years, we ALWAYS decorated the tree as a family.

My mom handing ornaments to my brother and me to hang.  My Dad always sat smiling, telling us to spread them out, not to hang them all in one place.  After we were finished hanging the ornaments, my Mom would put the final touch on...the tinsel.  She has always loved that silver tinsel.  When I moved out, my mom carefully selected the ornaments that I had collected over the years and gave them to me to take, to begin my "own" tree.

It remains one of my most cherished parts of Christmas.

When Matt and I moved in together, I remember how excited I was to get "our" first tree together.  We went out and cut one down at a local tree farm.  It was so much fun.  Snowy and freezing, but worth it.

When Chloe celebrated her first Christmas, we bundled her up and took her to the tree farm.  I have photos of her snuggled in the baby bjorn, in her snow suit, complete with rosey cheeks and a grin from ear to ear, riding along out into the field looking for our perfect tree.

It makes me smile and admittedly tear up to watch my girls decorate "our" tree.  Just as my parents taught me, I am teaching them.  Carefully handing the ornaments to them and watching as they carefully select the perfect branch for each one.  They get so excited to unwrap the precious treasures and remember where each one came from.  When they made them, or who gave it to them.  They each have their favorites.  They even comment on how old some of them are.

Chloe has become the "star placer" it is her very special job every year.  Her Daddy lifts her to the top and she places it atop.  She has become quite a pro in her 7 years.

I sit and think about what Christmas means to me...everything can be summed up in "our" tree.  Joy, beauty, sparkle, memories-past, memories-present, memories-future, and most of all, the love of family.

Warm lights...warmer hearts

The tree trimming was an amazing success.  No broken ornaments, and only a few "cat fights" about whose ornament was whose and who was hanging which ones on the tree.  I think the key words "a few" are the success here.  The Beauties had a great time.  They each are very into "mine" and "yours" right now.  It was so cute to watch each of them pick one branch and try to hang as many of "their" ornaments on it as possible.  Matt and I kept trying to teach them to spread them out, put them all over the tree, not just on one branch.  They liked their way much better.

Daddy took turns lifting each one of them to the higher part of the tree.  They thought this was wonderful.  It was so sweet to see them pick out an ornament and wait in line for their turn with Daddy.

Chloe was in her glory to be able to place the star on top of the tree.  Her face beamed as Daddy lifted her up.  She fussed over the perfection of the placement for several minutes, before being satisfied with how it looked.

So proud of their masterpiece.  

Jocelyn showing her favorite ornament...a penguin.

 Posing and blowing kisses.

The tree has been up for three days now.  Each day, the ornaments are rearranged several times.  We have lost only two thus far.  Here's to hoping the number will stay small, as they are crushed when one is broken.
We keep telling them to look with their eyes not their hands...again, they like their way better.

We visited Santa today.  Farrah climbed right up into his lap, I was shocked!  Silvie was fine just sitting next to him.  Although Jocelyn frowned and would not talk to him, she gave him a big hug.  It was amazing to watch and listen to their interaction with him.  He told them to be sure and be kind to each other.  To share and not fight.  He told them about putting their toys away when they were finished playing and also to put their dirty clothing in the hamper...it was like he really did have a direct view into our home.  (wink)  The girls listened so intently with eyes wide as he spoke of the exact things that took place at our house.  They were amazed that he really did know.
I so excited for the holidays this year.  It makes my heart warm to think about our family and teaching our beauties the meaning of Christmas.

O Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree

You are not taller than me!
We decked out the tree today. The Little Beauties loved pulling the ornaments off the tree, however did not like putting them on the tree. Chloe was too busy playing house with the barbie and spider man ornaments, to help, so it was Matty and I. The beauties were very interested in the lights and also with crawling under the tree. After finishing the decorating we watched as the beauties lurked around the finished product. The tree did not stand upright long. Less than thirty minutes to be exact. They pulled or maybe pushed it over...on Farrah! Yes...she is fine. We "reset" up the tree, only to have it go over again not ten minutes later. We lost a few ornaments in the fall. The tree has been relocated to the downstairs family room...I liked it better upstairs...and so did the beauties.