But recovery from Thanksgiving took a bit longer than usual with two kids. So we started on Friday with a trip up to the attic to bring down all remanants of the Christmas season. Ava and Noah got their own tree this year to dress up for the playroom...
I've always had plastic trees growing up - but since I got married, Aaron and I started a tradition of our own to buy the real thing and somehow recreate a snowy-lodge feel with a roaring fireplace and pine tree.
I'm a little sentimental in that I wish there was a nearby farm I could prance around with the kids. But the thought of driving back home with a tree on top of the car only took me as far as 2 miles away from the house. So on Saturday we headed to our nearby Home Depot and picked out our real tree for the family room.
Once we got there, we were blown away by how many trees that had sold already. We were also blown away by the weather - literally. This prompted a quick selection - but not after Ava and Noah experimented with the different textures and played a game of hide and go seek between the aisles.
Noah inspected its safety - and it passed thanks to the HD tree man who secured it tightly. Meanwhile, I was fantasizing about my hot cocoa....
Once we got home, the kettle started boiling and I began sorting the ornaments. Aaron dragged the tree inside and left it in the foyer to help detangle lights. The kids' interest had waned them over to the playroom, and I could hear pots and pans banging in their kitchen. When Aaron was ready with a pair of scissors to cutoff the netting, he discovered an ornament hanging from it's spire. We couldn't help but laugh - and amuse ourselves with how quickly the kids have welcomed the holidays - all on their own...
I was thinking of tree farms and the only other one i could think about was outside of Ponca City Oklahoma(about 50 miles south of the Kansas - Oklahoma border), I figured that would be too far of a drive.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like Noah did a great job Making sure the tree was securely fastened.
p.s. ...and Greg said "If you post it I will comment".
One of my favorite memories about Christmas is bundling up with my family to go out into the woods to choose "just the right tree." Unfortunately, snow and cold hindered us this year and we bought ours at the home improvement store. As soon as the tree was in the door, our boys couldn't wait to decorate it, even though the needles poked their fingers. I'm very much enjoying their delight in participating in holiday traditions--I'm sure they will remember these special moments too.
ReplyDeleteahhh, how cute. My little "I" also helped in the tree decorating this year. He decided all the apples would look nice if lined up. LOL I had to take pictures of it. I left many of them, but eventually had to spread some around the tree.
ReplyDeleteAren't they wonderful? The way they make everything in their own fresh way...
ReplyDeleteGreg - OK? Yes. That's a bit too far. There's a tree farm about 30 miles north - and I thought that was too far! ;)
ReplyDeletep.p.s - I posted tonight because of you... xoxox
eight feet - aaahhh.. I share your sentiment completely. You're soo lucky to have one near by and make it a family tradition. And like you - this year the home improvement store just won us over ;)
ReplyDeleteIt really is something when the kids can partake in the decorating of the holidays... I wonder how and if they will "participate" in the clean up :)
It's been interesting how one day we just say, it's Christmas time... let's go get a tree. And they just go with it. I'm dreading the day when they are grown and ask - what's the point? And then I'll have some serious explaining to do. Hopefully evidence of these photos will prove how fun it is to do together as a family... like you said, I hope they remember these "special moments" too ;)
What other holiday traditions are you doing together?
Julie! Aaron and I both laughed out loud! To see that wooden ornament just lay there on the ground - stuck to the top of the tree - was just too much.
ReplyDeleteIndeed it was wonderful. To have Ava make tree decorating her very own. I think this is one of our first experiences as a family where the kids actually get to act on their desires. We're soo use to guiding them in everything - and they just flow. Now, it seems [like in this experience] they are also expressing themselves. And I'm soo very happy to be able to capture and recognize that and let them freely do so...
Is this what parenting growing children is all about? Oh my!
Lisa - that is a cute picture as you described! I love how little ones think. So practical.
ReplyDeleteBy evening time, when I plug the tree lights on, I always notice how the ornaments are "missing" from the bottom. I'll usually find them laying on the floor, or on the couch. They can't seem to stop rearranging. Those poor pine needles - don't stand a chance each time they hook and pull the nutcrackers off... LOL!
Are your apples still on the tree?
Someone told me once that parenting is just slowly letting them go. SO TRUE! We are just keepers. Loving, beloved, blessed, involved keepers of their unique souls for a while. Learning that should be the best thing that happens to me in life...
ReplyDeleteOh Julie! That makes me cry. The very thought of "letting go" scares me to pieces. How can we? They are a part of us in every which way.
ReplyDeleteYou're such a brave mother - anticipating this slow transition, and seeing it as the best part of your life.
I'm right there with you - although again, I hate to think of the idea - but honestly, the greatest thing we can do for our kids is to build strong foundations within them - so that they are strong, confident and free to do great things. If we achieve this, then we have succeeded.
Hi Zarlacht,
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of giving the kids their own tree to decorate, how fun! (One of Corbin’s favorite Holiday movies is “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and while we were watching it last night, I told her it’d be cool to get a little tree and recreate the tree in the cartoon).
How funny that Ava and Noah started before the tree was untied. I hope you were able to leave the first ornament of the year in its place ;)
-Dave (hope your hot coco had mini marshmallows…stay warm)
We got our tree from Home Depot too!
ReplyDeleteOk, the pic of Noah on top of the car with the tree cracks me up, it looks like he's tied to the car too!!!
Dave & Corbin! I'm embarrased to say that I've never had a chance to watch Charlie Brown's Christmas yet. It seems like they always air it on TV when I'm not watching it. :)
ReplyDeleteI guess The Christmas Story and Miracle on 34th Street [older version] are two that I remember watching in school the last day before holiday break...
I love how this is a tradition for you both. What other traditions do you guys find yourself doing over the holidays?