Trim the Tree Tuesday

We still do an ornament a year.  My goal is for each child to have a head start on their own tree when they leave.  They pack their own away each year in their own ornament box.  It is really kinda cool and their distant aunt sends a santa to each of them every year to add to the collection. 

Good morning all,

I'm determined to jump on today.  I know it's late but I'm here.  I slept later then normal but had a tough night.  Matt's got a cold and was snoring louder then normal and I had a headache and the 2 didn't mix well.  UGH.  I won't tell him though cuz it will make him feel worse.  Poor guy.  He already treats me like a princess so I don't want him thinking he needs to sleep on the couch.  

I need to get the spare room ready for my boy.  He will be here on Saturday.  I'm planning on him staying here and going to church on Sunday in uniform and then to lunch with my dad.  Everyone is looking forward to seeing him all dressed up, including our waiters at the restaraunt.  LOL.  

OK, growing up we always had a fake tree.  My parents even had the fake silver tree for a while.  I never understood that thing.  I always dreamed of having a real tree so when I got married the first time, I was thrilled that my ex insisted on the real thing.  I now do the fake tree again because I quickly learned that the ex wanted the real thing but didn't want to help take it down or clean up after it.  But I regress.  I decorate with a hodge podge of ornaments but I have quite a collection of Coca Cola ornaments.  I like multi colored flashing lights as well so my tree is full of life and color.  Matt and I had a good time putting up the tree together this year.  

Saying prayers for all of you.  Have a great day everyone.

Hey You Guys!

This year we have a real tree. I LOVE it! We always had a fake one in the past. Mom and dad's was always fake and then when I moved out that tree was fake too. Sheldon had been a firefighter so he was always scared of real trees and lights. Dirk's family takes a trip to east Texas and goes to a farm. We went as a family and chopped it down and everything. While we were there I bought us an ornament for everyone to sign. It will be the first ornament of us being together as a new family.
In years past we always had Jack Skellington underneath of our angel, and Dirk's girls always had a huge velvet angel. I gave Jack to Sheldon and the girls' angel wouldn't fit on the tree this year so I pulled out a fiber optic Tinkerbell topper that I got from the Disney Store last year. When things calm down a bit, we need to go as a family and buy one that we all can agree on. For now Tinkerbell wins out. 
Mom and dad have an ornament that has the nativity scene inside it. It's this gaudy red plastic thing that was mass produced in the 70's, but I loved it as a kid. I used to add a light to the inside of it to highlight it on the tree. 
Currently I have a monorail and a Disney train that encircle the tree. The monorail even says the departure saying like at the Magic Kingdom. 
One childhood tradition we had was getting new pajamas. I still do that with my own kids. As a law- they dont ever HAVE to wear them any other day of the year (although they always do), but they had better show up xmas morning looking presentable. I know its vain but somehow when I look back at pictures in years past I really don't want to see my kids in holey t-shirts from previous vacation spots, esp if they have outgrown them and they have boxers hanging out too. lol 
We always put our tree up on the weekend after Thanksgiving. Still do! 
I agree with others in that this is and has been the longest week ever. Yesterday was a "forever" day. I don't think that Friday is ever going to show up. 

Love you guys! 
Tracey 

How funny, my mom always did the Pj thing.  I continued it.  I was only going to do DH this year and skip the 19 and 20 year old sons.  Nope.  No doing.  They already called to explain they want polar fleece pant bottems.  lol  At first I thought it presumptionus to expect a gift, but then I realized what they were really saying is how much they treasure that little family tradition.  So, yeah they'll get the pants and a matching t. 

Kaylee and Chase are going back and forth between their dad's and our house. Kaylee made a point of letting me know that she wanted some time at home because she "needed" to open her pj's before she could go anywhere! I don't know if this is her way of setting boundaries with her dad or if she really just wants the pj's...either way I'll take it! lol

Oh, the tree.  That's a touchy subject around here.  I'm not quite to the laughing stage yet.  Let's just say my 2 year old, pre-lit table top tree is missing and we have this 7 foot skinny one instead.  We have no idea where it came from.  But I have our traditional angel on top.  We change out different ornaments alternating from pretty/shiny ones and ones like Gina that we bought for the kids each year growing up.  This year it is the shiny ones.  I ended up decorating it by myself after throwing a few things and yelling a few choice words in an empty house.

As a kid putting up the tree was a huge family deal.  Dad put on Christmas records while we checked all the lights and untangled them.  Mom and I put together the tree (no real stuff due to allergies) and then my borother and I did ornaments.  Afterwards we turned out the living room lights and lit the tree.  We took family photos that night.  It was always hectic getting it done, but I have fond memories of the together time.

Missing everyone.  I don't know our new year plans yet.  I want to stay in town and maybe hit a party, but DH wants to go to the deer lease.  I want to go to the lease the following weekend. Not sure who is going to win this one.  I won a huge argument last night over DD and money for a drill team trip/competition so I may have to give in on this one and let him win.  I'm playing it by ear though. 

HUGS everyone.  

Stay warm; jog in place, do walking lunges, take the stairs or do jumping jacks for about 100 calorie burn in only 10 minutes!!  

We have a fake tree due to allergies and cats! I have a Petience Brewster Kringle Poinestta Fairy atop our tree. The tree itself is unique in that it is upside down and rotates. it was a gift from a client several years ago and fabulous since it takes up very little floor space. Tree goes up and gets decorated by the end of t-giving weekend. Being in retails and working crazy hours it just wont get done after that!

All our ornaments are old fashioned mercury glass except 1 wooden one from England that says Bah humbug ( another gift from another client-long story there)! The other ornaments we have been given or collected early in our marriage are in a huge bowl on the coffee table!

We keep our christmas village up all year since it takes up 4 bookcases andfrankly, I love looking at it and playing with it!! Atop 2 of the cases are Santa Clauses and on top of the 3rd one are a snowman family. They were my Grandfathers and made for him by one of his patients.There is also a semi modern nativity of woodwe set out!

Well it is now 3:15 am! Woke up with bad tummy but have to go for fasting bloodwork in the morning...its gonna be a long night, been up since 1am.
Love to all,
Meggie