Oh Christmas Tree

After weeks of procrastination, our tree is finally trimmed. Last year was an off year for us as far as Christmas went. All of our ornaments were in boxes in storage and we were living in an apartment, and getting ready to close on our new home the day after Christmas. We were in a bit of chaos to say the least. So this year has been extra special in the fact that we have been able to pull out all of our special Christmas decorations and make our house into a celebration of Christ's upcoming birth.

We began by patronizing our local Knights of Columbus tree sale. We found a nice balsam fir (we normally get a frazier fir), and the nice gentleman "tied"it to the top of the car. Let's just say that as we were driving over the Indian River bridge, we watched in horror as the tree flew off the roof of our car! How this tree landed on the shoulder of the road and not smack dab in the river I'll never know. We had to keep going over the bridge, turn around, go back over the bridge, and then turn around and start back up the bridge. Chris wasn't about to try and tie the tree back to the top of the car, so we opened the back and shoved it inside. Let's just say that if Colin ends up in therapy one day with an unexplained fear of Christmas trees, you'll know where it came from!

We finally got the tree home, and there it sat for a couple of weeks. We just never seemed to have enough time to trim the tree. Until last weekend. We decided we really didn't want to start a new tradition of decorating the tree on Christmas Eve, so we bit the bullet and trimmed away. The result is a sparkling, decorated tree.You can see where the boys did their decorating :-)

Santa

We went to the zoo on Sunday where Santa and Mrs. Clause were spending some time. Finally, 4 years later I have a picture of my children with Santa. Brian went into a Santa fear at around 17 months, and it hasn't abated since. As you can see I'm holding onto him for dear life! But, I now have a current picture to put into our Santa frame. :-)

The Stockings Were Hung

Who says you need to live where it can snow to have a fireplace? Not I! Chris and I decided that it would be nice to have a fireplace in our home, so we purchased a beautiful free-standing fireplace. And what's even nicer is that I can tie some history lessons into our purchase! Think we can write it off as a school supply? ;-)

Trimming the tree

With all of our household goods locked safely away in storage until our house is finished (more on that later - ugh!), it was going to be a pretty barren Christmas in terms of decorations in our apartment.

I really enjoy decorating for Christmas. I love making my home festive and bright in anticipation of Christ's birth. I get this from my mother who always made our home so warm and inviting every year. The weekend of Thanksgiving was always reserved for getting the house decorated from top to bottom. I remember when we lived in Florida back in the late 80's and everyone getting up and climbing all over the roof to string the lights. Our house was always one that people came to see on their tour of homes.

So this year was looking to be woefully plain. That is until my sister Lori offered us the use of one of her Christmas trees. Like my mom, Lori puts up a couple of trees in her house as well. This year she sacrificed her decorating so that my boys would have a tree for Christmas. They had such a great time decorating the tree this year.





Even though our house is not all decked out, we are still enjoying the spirit of Advent and trying to make sure the boys know that what we are preparing for is more than just presents under the tree - we are preparing for the greatest gift of all.

First night out

Since moving to Florida, we lost all of our reliable sitters. We were very blessed in Virginia to have friends and neighbors who were always willing to lend us a hand when it came to watching our boys. We have been terribly lost since moving in that respect.

Tonight, however, we achieved a milestone. Chris and I were out of the apartment. together. without children. Chris' boss had his entire team over to his home tonight for a Christmas party. But I digress, or would it be pro-gress if I haven't given the background as to how I was able to leave the house at the same time as my husband?

When Chris and I joined our gym back in October, we were each given 3 sessions with a trainer to show us how the machines work, set us up for the right settings, etc. Joey was our trainer. I met with him first, and then scheduled Chris for an appointment to join in on the fun. Joey is a 21 year old (I hesitate to call him a man, but I guess that's what he technically is) kid who I hit it off with from the get go. He was pushing my limits physically, and I kept having to remind him that I have had 3 babies in as many years, and I'm working myself back into shape. He made me laugh with his ditzy blondness. In talking one day while I was walking on the treadmill, he told me about some bars that were really fun. I asked him if he was offering to babysit so that Chris and I could go out. He of course insisted that he wanted to go with us, not babysit! So I told him that there's no way we could go out without a babysitter. That's when he told me about his 17 year old sister Noelle. Long story slightly shorter, I finally got Noelle's number and arranged for her to come over earlier in the week to meet my crew of boys. She didn't seem to frightened at the end of the hour, so we agreed she would return tonight at 4:30.

4:24 arrives, and there is a knock on the door. There stands Noelle, apologizing for being a little early - um, let me think about that...promptness, yeah, we don't like that trait at all! She comes in, I give her the basic run-down - dinner options, where the pajamas are, Brian & Sean's toothbrushes, how to work the remote - and I get ready to leave. All the boys seemed rather content with her being there and me walking out the door, so out the door I went. I immediately got on the wireless phone in my car (being safe of course!) and called my sister. I was so in awe of not having anyone in the back of the car that I just didn't know what to do with myself. Okay, let's pick back up on the reason for the evening out now.

I met Chris at his office and we drove over to his boss' house, Now for those people who know me, you might find this surprising, but I HATE going into new situations where I don't know anyone. My stomach gets all knotted up, I get a bit of a headache going, and feel like I want to throw up, or just not go into the event. Fortunately, Chris dragged me out of the car and up to the front door. He reminded me that he's only known these people for about 2 weeks - is that supposed to make me feel better, I'm not sure. George opened the door and I was swept inside. At that point there were only 3 or 4 other couples in the house. I couldn't remember all of the names George rambled out, but figured I would just cozy up in a corner and not have to worry too much about it. Chris whispered to me that we should just keep eating, that way we wouldn't have to talk to anyone. And it would have been possible to do just that with the amount of food there was. There were chicken wings, some rice salads, 3 different kinds of stuffed mushrooms, an antipasto platter, fruit platter, veggie platter, a couple of sandwich platters (and good ones at that!), and the piece de resistance of the dinner fare was a sushi boat. It was this 3.5 ft long wooden fish that held a variety of different sushi options. It was delish! Then there was the dessert table with a chocolate cake that people were lining up to lick the remnants off the plate it was that good.

I ended up meeting a number of people that Chris worked with, and at the end of the evening felt much more confident. I enjoyed myself, but more so the fact that I got to spend a couple of hours alone with Chris. We hardly ever get the opportunity to just enjoy each other's company. People knew who Chris was (the new guy, the young guy) and were happy to meet me. They knew that we had moved from the D.C. area, which tells me that already, Chris has made an impression on the people that he works with. I was so proud to stand there as his wife tonight, to support him and get a glimpse of the people he is with when he's not home with us.

Christmas Cheer Challenge

Christmas Cheer Challenge.

I tend to be skeptical about those emails you get that tell you to send money for this family who is down on their luck. However in this case I know someone who knows Suzanne, so I can vouch that this is the real deal.

Can you help make Christmas a little brighter for a family in need? Any little bit can help Mary make this Christmas nice for her daughters. She was hoping to at least be able to get them just some basics (pajamas, socks, etc.) for Christmas. Let's show her children the miracle of Christmas. God bless you.

He hit the nail on the head

Check out my hubby's blog for a beautiful reminder of What To Do For Christmas. Gosh, I love this man!

Christmas Meme

When I was over at Dawn's blog I found this great meme. Play along if you like - leave me a comment so I can check out your answers.

Wrapping paper or gift bags?

I like the convenience of gift bags for birthday presents, but for Christmas it's all about the wrapping paper!

Real tree or artificial?

Growing up we had an artificial tree until I was a teenager, and then we switched to real. My husband and I enjoyed going to the Christmas Tree Farm when we lived in Virginia. This year my sister Lori was kind enough to lend us an artificial tree since we are living in a state of flux and don't know when we will be moving into our house.

When do you put up the tree?

We typically put it up over Thanksgiving weekend.

When do you take the tree down?

Normally somewhere around the first of the year.

Favorite holiday theme?

I would have to say angelic. I used to collect Snow Babies and I bring them out each year. And if you read the answer 2 questions down, you'll see where it ties in.

Favorite gift received as a child?

Can it be 2? My dollhouse and my "real" doll. My dollhouse was decorated with real wallpaper - one of the bedrooms even had the same wallpaper as was in my bedroom. My "real" doll, was a Victorian doll. I loved that she was so beautiful - I still have her to this day and she sits proudly in my room.

Do you have a nativity scene?

Yes, many. I have a Celtic one that is made of stone pieces, a couple of Target/Walmart ones where the pieces are attached to the manager, a beautiful ivory ceramic one made by the aunt of one of Chris' friends (Stickels Family Ceramic Shop) and my newest addition is my beautiful Fontanini set that my parents gave me for Christmas.

Hardest person to buy for?

My dad!

Easiest person to buy for?

My boys!

Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

The non-gift that I received from my boyfriend one year.

Mail or email cards?

It has to be mailed cards. I have enjoyed stamping my cards for the past few years. I love the time I put into them and hope that our friends and family who receive them can feel the extra love I put into them.

Favorite Christmas movie?

I do so love Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas.

When do you start shopping for Christmas?

I have to admit that I have purchased Christmas presents as early as April! Not everything, but if I see something that really strikes a cord with me as being a perfect gift I won't hesitate getting it and stowing it away. Of course Chris is always afraid that I'll forget where I hid it and that I'll buy even more!

Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

No.

Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

All the food my mom makes for Christmas day. For brunch we have Breakfast Hot Dish (casserole made with eggs and sausage, although this description just doesn't do it justice). Dinner is something I look forward to all year. My parents made the decision early in their marriage that they wanted to have an Old English Christmas dinner. We have a standing rib roast, Yorkshire pudding (YUM!), brussel sprouts & carrots, creamed celery and rolls - although really, who needs rolls with all the other yumminess abounding on the table.

White lights or colored on the tree?

White. Though I do love to sit in front of my parents tree which still sports the large multicolor bulbs of my youth.

Favorite Christmas song?

I can't narrow it down to just one, so here's a small sampling:

• Mary's Boy Child (I cry with joy every time I hear this one)
• The Christmas Shoes (another tear-jerker)
• Gabriel's Message (gives me chills)
  
• Angels We Have Heard on High
• Sleigh Ride
• Silver Bells
• Christmas Eve in Washington (I'm really going to miss hearing this one this year)
  

Travel for Christmas or stay at home?

I grew up staying home for Christmas - we lived too far from family to make it work even if my parents wanted to travel. Chris went to his grandparents for Christmas. We are trying to find a happy medium. We are striving to have Christmas at our house in the morning and then seeing people in the afternoon/evening.

Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?

Yes.

Angel on the tree top or a star?

Star - silver with lights strung through it.

Open the presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Christmas Day. The exception is for Chris and I. We open the majority of our presents to each other late on Christmas Eve since we don't want to make the kids sit through all of our opening in the morning. Plus, after we open gifts in the morning we have gone over to my parents' house so it just saves time.

Most annoying thing about this time of year?

Christmas decorations going up at Halloween. Commercialism. Disrespect. The mall.

What I love most about Christmas?

The music. The decorations. Giving to my family and friends. Looking forward to the birth of a baby that changed the world.