LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
She wasn't standing in my house sending me a text (although not unheard of) she was driving past my house. She was right, my tree does look great....from the street. My tree is really best viewed from the street, that is a fact. My neighbors love it, it makes everyone happy. Seeing a glowing tree in someone's front window is like a nice hot cup of cider.
At the time of Sugar's observation and compliment, the tree was naked but for the lights. I briefly considered taking minimalism to a new level and not putting anything on it.
I only considered the minimalism notion for a week or so and then decided one night to decorate the tree. I quickly regretted the decision.
Keith is convinced that all of my ornament balls are actually balls. The first box we opened on the day after Thanksgiving had a large (beautiful and expensive) ornament ball in it. He did not hesitate one bit. He picked it up and chucked it down the hall. Except instead of bouncing down the hall it smashed into 569 million pieces on the tile. Since then I have been trying to protect my significant investment in Christmas decorations from my second born. So use your imagination and think fiasco.
Then there is Patrick. The boy who has been putting 14 ornaments on one branch since he was two. I was just trying to wrap the tree in ribbon and fluff the branches. But once the icicles became weapons and I was over it. I stopped the whole process mid-stream, told the boys that it was done AND beautiful (it was neither) and packed up shop.
This year our tree isn't dripping ornaments but the good news is I stopped before I started to yell and make a big deal out of a Christmas tree. And we moved on and had hot chocolate or danced to the snowmen or something of the sort.
THE TREE of the FUTURE (echo effect please)
This is at least the second Christmas that I have threatened to get a new faux tree. Issues with the current tree are as follows:
1) the week after we bought the tree (6 years ago?) the dogs chewed through the box and the lights have never been the same
2) our storage of the tree (crumbly bag) does not keep the storage unit dust off of it
3) are fake trees supposed to shed so much you have to vaccum every time someone touches it?
4) our ceilings dwarf the tree and we need at least a couple more feet to really feel like we're in business.
In reference to #4 the "we" is "me". Kevin proclaimed that he was done with this tree as he gerry-rigged the lights (again) this year (I think there are still sections that are out). But he is hot for a real tree. He says that this one is not going back into storage no matter what we agree on come December 26.
So here she is, here last time on the Callahan stage. Our tree....
Notice the recession Christmas we are apparently having this year. No gifts! Actually if you click on the picture you might be able to make out two small presents. They are leftovers from last year, I have no idea what is in those packages. I haven't had time to wrap anything AND I have a curious toddler who will likely get a jump-start on his Christmas gift opening. Seriously, wrapping it once is a chore, wrapping it again.... someone might just get a gift bag.
Santa brought these for Patrick when he was 2 (notice the clustering). They have worked like a charm with Keith. So far he hasn't even paid attention to any of the other ornaments because there is a Crackmo I mean Elmo ornament right at his sight line.
Fox ornaments...clustered
Unicorns don't get enough play anymore.
I like this Santa with his big stick, very TR. Shouldn't every Santa have a big stick for that annoying child who just needs a good whooping? Just kidding, your child is precious.
Next year when Keith is a responsible 2 1/2 year old I am quite certain my tree will be dreamy and delicous.
In the meantime, another moment with my butterflies
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