My Christmas Fantasy: Mom, Dad and kids all decorating the tree. White Christmas playing softly in the background. Everyone sharing laughter and fond memories as heirloom ornaments are hung in a tasteful arrangement.
Afterwards, everyone sips hot chocolate with marshmallows and candy cane swizzle sticks in the kitchen. Perhaps served by a maid, who also cleans up.
My Christmas Reality:
Dad harbors secret OCD tendencies with regards to Christmas tree lighting. Stringing lights takes a very long time and no one else is allowed in the room. Children banished to the family room get hyper and start running hysterically to the hip-hip/technofunk carols featured on Sirius Radio.
When finally allowed into living room, children begin to bicker over ornament posession. Tree is decorated in three major "clumps"...at 3 year old, 6 year old and 8 year old eye levels, respectively.
Dad and youngest kid refuse to participate at all in ornament hanging, preferring instead to sit on the couch and, helpfully, point out the places where "You missed a spot..."
Kid #3 falls into his hot chocolate and ends up wearing his candy cane swizzle stick.
Older children sharpen theirs into lethal weapons.
Oh, and I am the maid.
The tree is done...I guess reality's not so bad.
15 comments:
I like your house. And your mustardy wall color. Oh yes, your tree is very nice too.
At least everyone is in their jammies so they can be banished to their rooms shortly after the festivities. FHE rules.
It looks beautiful. I love Sam in his cocoa costume!
Fantastic photoblog. I could have posted this, but I didn't even bother decorating the tree because then my kids couldn't reach the ornaments to take them down and fight about whose they are! I think my tree is cute 1/3 of the way decorated.
Love the photos..especially the candy cane one (stuck to his jammies- too funny). And I love your house too- it's cool to be able to see what it looks like...have you had pics inside your house and I just didn't see them?
Oh and I did away with all kid vs. Mom battles and bought a second tree at Joann's (it was a huge deal- about $25 for a $100 tree) on Fri. Now the kids have their tree (in the family room) and I have mine (in the living room). They can take ornaments off and on their tree all day long if they want. It think it was worth the $25.
Once again, you're the nice mommy I should emulate! I decorate the tree myself and let the kids watch!? Oddly they're pretty okay with this. I think they like hearing me talk about the ornaments and where they came from. They do have a tree in the playroom that they get to decorate... sort of. I am a control freak. I'm working on it...
Your tree is lovely and I'm jealous that you have it up already! Love your living room!
Hey, that sounds just like my snow post. See, I knew we were best blog buddies.
Thanks for the compliments on my blog.
I love your mustard wall color as well, that color yellow is one of my favorites.
I am a little ocd and I believe I inherited it from my father who always had fantasy family activities which never quite panned out.
I am trying to improve upon what he taught me and realize that reality isn't that bad either.
I really enjoyed reading your last few posts.
gab, this made me laugh out loud! what a fun holiday tradition. the tree looks gorgeous! way to get in the spirit of things.
these are the little details that make your family's christmas extra special and memorable! just wait until all your boys grow up and do the same lighting their tree and you'll realize it HAS become a passed down tradition!
That was hilarious. Beautiful tree! I am wanting that fantasy land now!!!!!!! That's exactly what it will be though, a fantasy!
Your house is beautiful and your tree is lovely. I am still a candy cane weapon maker, all these years later!
I too love your mustard walls.
We may forgo the tree this year since we are out of town. The kids can happily decorate their own two foot fake ones they have in their rooms.
Ha ha! So funny and true. We're in the middle of it right now. As you can see, mom needs a break. I sent the kids upstairs to watch Frosty while I chill fo 20 min. UGH!! I'll be glad when it's over. :-)
I agree with CF. Your house is gorg and the tree looks great!
Hee Hee! Great post! I love the description of the decorating at their respective eye/height levels--so true. Annelise clumps everything on the bottom 2-3 rows. I also like your couch supervisors. All in all though, your tree is beautiful!
This is about how our tree "put up" event went. The thrill of it is a lot grander than the act itself.
People should read this.
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