I promised my Love Bug that tonight we would decorate the tree...and even though she could barely keep her eyes open, and my body ached from a day at work, we did it. I hauled the tree up from the basement, and dragged the boxes in from the garage. Carly sat anxiously on the couch waiting while I put up the tree. And it struck me, as I threw the branches into their color coded piles before snapping them in their spot on the "tree trunk", that my daughter was watching me assemble our tree. And a small pang of guilt struck at my heart, because I wondered if I was taking some of the magic out of it for her.
Growing up some of my best memories were at Christmas. And the days of going to the tree farm to chop the perfect Christmas tree are among those. We would bundle up in our snow suits and boots, drive out to a tree farm, and walk for what seemed like hours to find the best tree. I remember my Dad stationing us at tree that "could be the one" and being instructed to guard it, while the rest of the family trekked off a little further to see if another tree was "the one". I can remember standing there, freezing but ever determined to protect our tree. I remember finally cutting down the tree, or rather my Dad cutting down the tree, dragging it back to the lodge and getting some hot chocolate while they netted up our pine wonder. And as I thought about these good ole times, I couldn't help but wonder if maybe one Christmas my daughter might experience this wonderful tradition of my childhood, and maybe have a memory of it for herself.
That being said, that little pang of guilt was quickly washed away when I told her it was time to decorate and she let out an exuberant, "YEAH!" and ran to get her newest ornament for our tree. You see Friday we went to Great Lakes Crossing and in the Disney store I let her pick out a Disney ornament for our tree. Now mind you, they had a double sided display FULL of nearly every Disney character you can imagine. And which character ornament did my daughter pick...
The mean cats from Lady & the Tramp...
I mean really! But to each their own right. My favorite ornament, a noodle angel given to me by my first grade teacher.
My Mom gave me some very special childhood ornaments two years ago. It was wonderful to put them on tree every year growing up, and now it is just as special putting them on my tree!
Some other Christmas favorites...a gaudy gold angel that was my Grandma's.
She loved anything with angels and now this one hangs in my living room guarding over us for the holiday season. And last year I finally got us family stockings! I am so glad I picked up four!
I can't wait to get little Baby Berry 2's name on his stocking. (Yes, I said "his". It is simply a prediction not a fact. We will know in another month or so for sure.)
And now I sit here completely wore out. With my fuzzy slippers and hot chocolate, basking in the Christmas glow of my house.
The pine scented candles are going, filling the room with the delicious smell of that tree farm from the past.
My little helper all snuggled in her bed for the night.
Life is good, and Christmas is here!
OH! And check this out! My girl got her ears pierced this week too!
She did so good! And when we got home, within five minutes she came out of her play room like this...
Earrings, bling, glasses and tattoos! I was a little nervous that my husband would be coming home to a pierced and tattooed two year old...but hey she rocked it!
