Thursday, December 9, 2010

Jingle Bells

Last year, I was pretty much on the ball with our holiday cards. They weren't mailed yet, but they were at least in the late design stages. However. I couldn't get my stuff together when it came to decorating. I just couldn't find the spirit to bedeck our halls. So our tree didn't go up until the week before Christmas.

This year, I couldn't wait to get our tree set up. Starting around Thanksgiving, I badgered Neil to climb up in the top of the garage and get it down so I could set it up and decorate. I won't lie and tell you that it's construction was without it's speedbumps. Every year, I pull out all of the parts and kick myself for not having a better system to remember which pieces go where.* And there was some crankiness while I scratched my hands up as I placed, re-placed and then fluffed the branches. And neither the cats nor the kid were especially cooperative when it came to ornament placement. But I had lovely carols playing on the stereo and a pepperminty candle burning on the mantle.

And when I plugged in the lights. Ahhh. It. Was. Breathtaking. Sophie, standing a half dozen feet from it, spread her arms and WOWed. That moment was enough to make any pain and suffering worth it. A thousand times over. So our tree went up the first week of December and now we'll have nearly a month to enjoy it's twinkling beauty. God, I love Christmastime.

Now, I just need to figure out what the hell I'm going to do about our cards.

*THIS year, I'm instituting a color-coding system. Remind me round about December 26th, will ya?

13 comments:

  1. You are awesome. I have neither cards going nor a tree decorated. I just can't seem to get around to it this year! Eck.

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  2. Your tree is just lovely and I bet that WOW was so, so worth it. We put ours up the Sunday after Thanksgiving. It makes me happy whenever I look at it which and when your family room/dining room/living room is all one room, you can look at it all the time! I keep hoping for a lazy night on the couch reading a novel next to the tree. I have to make that happen. Wishing you plenty of peaceful moments this holiday season.

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  3. Same here. Normally mine would be shipped out weeks ago. This year...haven't decided what we'll take a photo of. Tree's 1/2 decorated. Whatever happens, happens lol. LOVE that new bean pic in the sidebar..by the tree! HOW SWEET!

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  4. I'm the designated tree-fluffer at our house. My husband says he can't do it as well as I can ... Think he's scamming me to avoid scratched-up hands?? =>

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  5. Our tree is up, 98% of the presents are wrapped, and the Christmas cards should get in the mail next week.

    In related news, I'm exhausted.

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  6. I think it's hard to get in the spirit when you are so tired from chasing a toddler around... Just speaking from my experience here :)

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  7. I will totally remind you about the color-coding. And we put our tree up early this year, too, because I thought this kid would be out by now. But how funny is he?!? The joke is on us! He's decided that due dates are for chumps!

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  8. Do your branches have to each be placed in the pole? We used to have one like that when I was a kid. It was a pain.

    The trees I have now go together in three pieces. SO EASY.

    I hate the fluffing. HATE. IT. My arms get so scratched up. Next year I'm wearing long sleeves and gloves.

    Your tree looks beautiful.

    I haven't gotten my cards back yet. I hope they will be here Wednesday. I'm late doing mine.

    I haven't received many this year either. By this time last year I had at least 20 or more. I only have SIX right now. Either people aren't doing them for whatever reason or I've pissed a lot of people off. LOL!

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  9. Purty! I nixed cards this year & I feel kinda bad about it but I was plagued with a bit of bahumbug. Now I feel like I'm super behind. Tis possible I always feel like that.

    Since I've only gotten two cards this year I will assume everyone else feels the same way. :)

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  10. If you have the opportunity, it might be worth picking up a new tree on clearance after the holidays. I did two years ago and OHMYGAH! You don't have to figure out where branches go anymore! They just fold down!

    Sorry. I found this to be earth-shattering news when I discovered it. I'm easy amused like that. ;-)

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  11. We usually do that same thing - enjoy the tree all month long - It's 11 days before Christmas and it has yet to even be brought out of the upstairs closet. Maybe this weekend? (I'm hoping so).

    BTW - your tree does look WOW!

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  12. We got one tree up the weekend before Thanksgiving (the kids couldn't wait) and then the other 2 the weekend after Thanksgiving....but I just got my cards today, they'll go out this week, I always do this with the cards and I really try to do better each year, LOL!

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Give me some sugar, baby!