December 2 ~ Decking the Halls

So today Santa's Christmas Holiday Season told us we were gong to decorate our Christmas tree. The kids were howling with excitement. Not so much about the tree. More because of the dinner they knew they would have. Our tradition is to have appetizers/finger foods on tree decorating night and we just nibble while we decorate. We eat off of Christmas plates, drink from Christmas cups, and use Christmas serving platters for the food. It's quite festive. We also play Christmas music, but the CD Haley wanted was full of music from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. If you have never heard their stuff before, it's like Christmas music on crack. It is hard core. Don't get me wrong, I do like their stuff, but tonight was one of those nights that I just couldn't take more than a song or two. Fortunately, the CD didn't want to cooperate and after about that many songs, it was skipping and repeating, so we got to shut it off. Christmas miracle #1.


Let me just preface the pictures by saying I know they are bad. I didn't use the flash on these and knew that I needed to, but never got around to retaking them with the flash on. But you have to see our dinner! The sausage balls are the biggest hit here. We also have veggies and dip, fruit, and Christmas cookies. This year we also added Little Smokies. The kids liked those, especially Landon, who will probably become a hot dog before he goes to kindergarten. We also usually have cheese and crackers, which I forgot to do this year. Oops. Eventually I will make some really nice appetizers on tree deco night. Most of the kids are too little to appreciate or even remember something like that yet. So it will still be sausage balls, fruit, and veggies for the next few years.







That's enough with bad pictures. Let's move on to the actual tree decorating. While the kids got started on their dinner, Roger and I put the lights on the tree. One day when we're filthy rich, I'm going to buy new lights every year so they won't be tangled when we take them out. I don't care how careful you are when you take down your tree and wrap up the lights, they are always tangled the next year. Or maybe that doesn't happen to you. It does to us.


Then we sat down and let the kids loose. It was nice listening to them reminisce as they went through the ornaments. That is my favorite part of decorating the tree - looking at all the ornaments and the memories they bring back.


If you don't have these ornament boxes, you need to get them. These are canvas-covered. They are made by Rubbermaid and they hold a TON of ornaments. There are dividers to keep your ornaments separated and there are 2 or 3 levels to each box. There is also a clear plastic pocket on the front of the boxes so you can label what is in each one. Wait until after Christmas to get them. I got mine at Home Depot the lear before last for like $3 each. I think the regular price is $15. They are indespensible.


That's Landon's favorite ornament - "Melmo."

Did you notice how nice everyone was being? The last few days have been fight after fight after fight. Something about decorating a Christmas tree can totally change the mood though. But don't be deluded. It wasn't the Christmas Spirit. It was the Christmas Contest. I didn't realize how important a job it was to put the angel on top of the tree. Not until the fight broke out over who was going to get to do it and who did it last year so they couldn't do it again this year. So we had a contest. Whoever had the most angelic behavior while decorating the tree would get to put the angel on top. Worked like a charm. Everyone was sweet and loving and helpful and kind. So who won? While eveyone was behaving so angelically, I decided to make the decision myself instead of going with some fair, impartial method. Carrie has been sick for a couple of days, so I chose her, and guess what? NOBODY argued! Nobody complained or rolled their eyes or started to cough and sneeze. They got used to being angels, and it carried over! Woo hoo!

Where's Rog?? He was trying to find the self-timer on our camera, that's where. Never found it. We are going to have to write a note to ourselves and stick it in the camera bag next time we figure out the self-timer. We can never remember where the thing is! Don't ask me where the manual for the camera is either. We have moved too many times to keep up with such unimportant things as the directions to operating an expensive piece of equipment.

'Til tomorrow, when some other exciting, creative Christmas thing-a-ma-bob will happen...