1. First, find a good place to put your tree. This year we put the tree in the back of the living room instead of the front. Here it is the day we got it (Saturday, December 6th) after we set it up in the stand. Make sure you water it ASAP and keep watering it daily or it will get its revenge by dying an early death.
2. Trick your child into thinking that he is magic and can turn the lights on and off by blowing on them as if they were birthday candles. John totally thought he had this power. He had no idea that Peter was controlling it behind him. It was so funny!
3. Have your husband string up the lights. This year it's his turn to choose the color of the lights. Peter likes colored, and I like white. So here he is putting up his colored lights.
Trying to decide if the bear or the star should hold the place of honor on top of the tree. The star won, but only because it lights up and the bear doesn't.
4. Because the lights take awhile to string up, decorate with ornaments the next night. Try to get a cute, perfect picture of your kid in front of the tree, which proves to be impossible.
5. Enjoy the finished product:
I'm happy with the tree, although it isn't decorated as nicely as some of our past Christmas trees. I didn't bother putting on things like tinsel this year. I just don't feel as festive as usual. Plus it has those blasted colored lights instead of the elegant white ones.
To make up for my Scrooginess, here are some of my favorite ornaments.
My beloved childhood Strawberry Shortcake ornament from the '80s:
Our 1st Christmas, 2002
My mom got me this when I was pregnant with John in 2004. They were all out of blondes, so she got the brunette and had it personalized with his name and the year.
My dog needed her own ornament
Year-long loyal Red Sox fans show their love with things like this:
My seashell angel, bought at a shop in Hyannis, Massachusetts during one of our annual summer vacations to Cape Cod.
I hope you're all having a nice Christmas season!
