Last night Heather, Aaron and I put up our Christmas tree. We walked a couple of blocks from the house to pick out a tree at a local garden shop. We've been getting our tree from them for years so it's sort of become a tradition. After spending 20 minutes or so searching through all sorts and shapes of trees, we finally picked one up. (and at only $28.99, I think we did darn good!) Aaron threw it over his shoulders (he's over 6' tall and a big guy), and we walked home.
We're tight on space so we picked out a smaller tree but didn't it turn out beautiful? We have a zillion ornaments so we were not able to put them all on the tree. Instead, we got to pick and choose those special ornaments that mean the most to us. If you look almost center of the tree, you can see a teardrop shaped ornament that looks a little like a flag. Years ago I had purchased a bunch of "American Flag" style ornaments but nobody liked them and we never put them on the tree. This year Heather suggested we put one on in celebration of Obama getting elected. I thought that was a great idea and felt slightly vindicated for buying them all those years ago.
Although there are no more children running around my house, I still find Christmas to be a wonderfully magical time. Yes, I know it can be crazy and yes, I know it can get stressful and yes, I know that sometimes the gift giving can get out of hand BUT all you need to do is keep it in perspective. Enjoy what you have and don't worry about what you can or cannot give. Life's too short to not enjoy the love that this holiday season can bring.
Special Note: If you look closely at the bottom of the second picture, you can see part of Sissy in the middle and a little bit of Dave's ear on the right side.
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31 comments:
It is so pretty. I feel bad that my kids will never know what it is like to have a real tree. But as a child I was scarred for life. My mother put our real tree up and it stayed up til Easter. The needles in the yellow shag carpet stayed there for a year. I hated the smell of the needles getting sucked up in the vacuum also.
Unfortunately, I'm alot like my mom. So my kids get the prelit, white Walmart 25 dollar fake tree. That keeps on giving every year.
The pups were nicely and patiently posing by the tree, and you didn't get them in the shot?!
Love all the ornaments, especially the ones that look like bulbs, cute.
Beautiful tree! I'm so bummed. I couldn't find any of my ornaments in the basement, so our tree has only lights on it. Poor ornament-less tree!
I liked your idea to hang the flag. I've never seen a patriotic ornament before.
Question: I see two doggies in the second shot. Have they tried to take the tree down yet?
It looks great:)
Preston-
First, your tree is beautiful and I love your post about Christmas being magical and keeping perspective....so true!
Second, I can not believe someone had the audacity to leave you such homophobic, hateful comments! I detest intolerance and that really makes me angry that someone did that. You have handled it with class and dignity though....kudos to you :-)
You tree is lovely.
Your tree is gorgeous and it was a bargain! I love it!
Gotta love creating new memories!
Love the tree boo.
Wheresmyangels - Don't feel bad about the fake Christmas tree. We did the fake tree for years. My daughter experienced the "thrill" of matching up the color coded branches to the fake tree trunk and as the years wore on, the "thrill" of trying to figure out just where those branches went since all the color had worn off! We didn't start buying real trees until she was in her later teens.
Angie - Yes, the doggies were there but not really posing patiently. I wanted to take the picture before their tails wagged off half the ornaments! And the bulb ornaments are one of my daughter's favorites.
Kathy - Yes, it is beautiful. I'm sorry you couldn't find your ornaments. Do you have a basement gremlin or something? Go to thrift stores to find ornaments. I've picked up a ton of pretty ornaments for next to nothing at places like that. Answer: The doggies have never knocked the tree down but the first year we got a real tree, Dave decided to pee all over it. He knows better now, hopefully, for his sake...
Sandy - Thanks. It does look great!
Rachel - Thanks and it is a magical time. No matter what other people say or do, only you can let that magic slip away. And I detest intolerance too. Nothing like having a little hate thrown into the holidays. I'm glad you liked the way I handled it. I'm not going to let some hateful little poser ruin my Christmas spirit!
Heathersister - I love my tree. Have you put your tree up yet? And I hope you are feeling better.
Renee - I absolutely love bargains! Are you going to do a Cutie Bootie tree? J/K
Erin, Nick and Merrick - Me too. You know any day, any time can be a memory if you want it to be. I love your tree too, especially your Wedding Picture Ornament!
awesome tree Preston! Good job
Cammie - Thanks. It is quite awesome, ins't it?
I think your tree is beautiful. I love the patriotic ornament. We have one in that I got for my brother who was in the Air Force. What an important memory yours will be for you (finally being able to hang it!).
Keep the memories alive. Lovely.
a beautiful tree to be sure....
Jerrie - Thank you. I think my tree is beautiful too and I feel really good about the patriotic ornament. Here's to the memories.
Noah's Mommy - Thanks. It is a beautiful tree!
The tree is so pretty!!! I love real trees....my husband doesn't though.
Keeper of the Skies Wife - Thanks! I love real trees, too. I've also had fake trees in the past. It's only once a year. You should suggest to your husband to let you have a real tree next year and then go back to the fake one the following year. After all, marriage is all about compromise, isn't it? Good luck!
I think it is funny that right next to a post in which you talk about honoring the election of President Elect Obama with an ornament on your tree your Entrecard advertiser is Political Conservatives. Very open minded of you. lol
And the tree looks great. Happy Holidays.
Ken - Hey, I'm open to opposite points of view as long as they are presented in a professional, non-hateful manner. Happy Holidays to you too!
You are welcome and thanks. I am starting to human again today.
Heathersister - Glad to hear that you're feeling better! You don't want to be sick for the holidays!
Some day we'll have a tree again. Don't think it's gonna happen again this year. Just have 2 put ornaments on the dog and cats. Sorry I've not been around. I AM working on your Bag O Grabs. Had surgery Monday, so I've been set back a bit, but I think you're gonna dig the surprises!! Woo HOO!
I never knew you could get live trees for so cheap. That one is gorgeous!! Merry Ho Hos! :)
Miragi - I hope everything went okay with your surgery and no rush with my Bag O Grabs. Take your time and get yourself better. I am sure I will Love whatever you send me. I'm sorry you won't have a tree as I think it helps make such a nice holiday feel in the house. My dogs; however, would never let us hang ornaments on them. LOL I can barely get a leash on them! Merry Ho! Ho! to you too.
Cool tree!! We stopped putting trees up at my house around 4 years ago ... lol. Maybe I should get one this year!?
Tamicks - Thanks. I almost didn't put up a Christmas tree 5 years ago when I was seriously depressed. But somehow I put one up and I was glad a did. I hope you get one, even if it's just a little fake one. :)
Ahhh but my lovely fake tree doesn't have the color coded branches. It comes in only THREE pieces. Takes about 2 minutes to set up! Gotta love the future!
Wheremyangels - I've seen those three piece trees. Pretty amazing stuff. My friend has a one piece tree with all the lights already attached. Nothing like Christmas at the snap of the fingers, eh?
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Preston. How do I distress my Christmas by being invited to my friends homes for Christmas dinner...the only sad thing about that would be no leftovers.Maybe I'll beg some this year:D
Bellini Valli - Thank you and I wish you a wonderful Christmas too. Having Christmas dinner with friends is wonderful. This year, Heather has to work at 4 on Christmas Day. So her boyfriend and I are going to the bar where she works and have Christmas dinner there, so we can sort of spend it with her.
Bellini Valli - Thank you and I wish you a wonderful Christmas too. Having Christmas dinner with friends is wonderful. This year, Heather has to work at 4 on Christmas Day. So her boyfriend and I are going to the bar where she works and have Christmas dinner there, so we can sort of spend it with her.
Preston, I'm always impressed with a beautifully-shaped, beautifully-decorated tree. You had both!
Thanks so much for stopping by and entering my giveaway.
Joy - I'm glad you liked my tree and I am always ready for a giveaway!
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