I love Christmas. LOVE is an understatement really. I start counting down the months the day after, and then sometime close to the beginning of the school year I begin counting the weeks... after Halloween means marking down the days. I live for December. I had initially planned on putting the Christmas trees up the day after Thanksgiving. That didn't exactly happen. I did manage to get it up early last week however. We have FOUR trees, not counting the 5th one I gave away to my Dad because OMG5TREESTODECORATE. The largest one has all of our full sized ornaments and all of my Grandparents ornaments as well. Some have survived the 50 plus years, some sadly have not. The medium sized one has all of my Mammaw's little ornaments on it. My Mom bought it for her the year (year before?) she died as she couldn't handle waiting for my Grandfather to drag the large tree out of storage less than a week before Christmas. The smaller tree was the initial tree my mom had bought her, but has all of my first ornaments from when I first moved out of the house. All wee little ornaments in purples, greens and blue. I also have about 5,000 feet of tinsel shoved into all three trees. The 4th tree downstairs in our little "basement apartment" has all the little handmade ornaments the kids have made at school. Luckily, this year I had a little help. We may not be all hip with the REAL "elf on the shelf" but, the kids totally bought that my yard gnome ornament was one of Santa's little helpers. He strung the wood bead garland. I told him we wouldn't have enough, but does he EVER listen?
Apparently not.
This is my favorite ornament. It's not even mine. This was my Grandparent's first ornament as a married couple. The gold flaking has faded over time, and the snowmen on the opposite side look like zombie snowmen, but it still holds dear to my heart. I would repaint it, but that would mean painting over the inscription on the bottom that reads "First Ornament 1953" in my Grandmother's handwriting. She passed away 3 years ago they day before Christmas Eve. I was 8 months pregnant and couldn't bring myself to go be with her as she went. I know that she knew I couldn't physically and mentally handle her leaving us. It was too much for my hormones to handle, and I was here with my babies (one inside of me, one out) celebrating Christmas with my In-laws. I don't think they'll ever know how much it meant to me for us to all be there celebrating Christmas, her favorite holiday.
I am sharing my holiday home decor and cleaning tips for the chance to win prizes from The SITS Girls and Great Cleaners.
I'm sorry about your grandmother, more that it happened so close to Christmas. But, the happiness that resonates through your words about their first ornament (think of that! Their very first together. Just. Wow) is clear. And um....yeah...5 or even 4 trees -- I cannot. I have yet to put up the ONE we will have. I'm still shaking the di whispering into my fist come ooooooooooooon holiday spirit, mama needs some help.
ReplyDeleteI think she was more than ready to spend Christmas with Him on His Birthday. It was her favorite Holiday! I will be fighting tooth and nail for that ornament when the day comes to disperse their things amongst their kids, grandkids and great grandkids. I'm filled with the Holiday spirit, if you need help and have the cash to fly me up, I will totally come decorate yo space! ((And 5 trees really ISN'T that bad when only one of them actually involves piecing together. I'm not COMPLETELY crazy, you know???))
ReplyDeleteAw, how special that you have a tag in your Grandmother's handwriting on that ornament. I would cherish that too!
ReplyDeleteBut I cannot imagine decorating 5 trees. I'm only half through with our ONE.
Thanks for stopping by my blog today. Fun prompt!
Four trees!? How do you do it? I did good to get my one tree up... and so far, my son has already pulled it over on top of me one time since we did that. I think that Christmas resonates with so many people the way it does because of the fact that it is time we carve out of the year to devote to family. My favorite ornaments are also the ones that remind me of loved ones.
ReplyDeleteOMG! Five trees!! FIVE TREES!!! You do love Christmas ... perhaps a little too much! HAHA!
ReplyDeleteI can totally see why that is your favorite ornament. What a lovely heirloom to have.
These days, it's really REALLY not that bad if you have your headphones on and maybe a drink in your hand. ;)
ReplyDeleteSarah, I keep waiting for my Grandfather's feral cat to pull any one of them down.
Jenners, I may or may not be a little insane.
What a sweet keepsake you have!
ReplyDeleteWhy, THANK YOU!!! I will cherish it forever, that's for sure. :)
ReplyDeleteWow! Five Trees!! That's a lot!! We love Christmas here too!! We don't have that many trees, but my husband and son start counting down the days right after Halloween. They even start listening to Christmas music the first of November....earlier sometimes.
ReplyDeleteYup, nobody said I was normal! I am pretty sure I'm the only one in this house outside of my kids who is obsessed over Christmas! :) I crank up my Christmas playlist while I clean, as if that alone would get me brownie points with the man in red. ;)
ReplyDelete