Because of the wonderful new piano, we had to take down the tree earlier than usual. I normally like to leave it out until at least new years, so I can get really depressed putting it away by myself when Kris is back at work. But we wanted to move a bookshelf and the tiny TV to where the tree was so that the piano could take a place of honor in the living room. So two days after christmas the tree came down. And it was kind of sad, since we really didn't get to enjoy it as long as usual because of being gone so much of December for our vacation. But it was kind of nice to get it put away and not have to worry about it. And Kris was home, so I got some help.
A few words about the tree. It is fake. And when I was younger I swore I would never have a fake tree. Then my mom got me one after Kris and I got married. We've used it every year since we left UT. Seems like since that time we've always spent some of december out of town. It's pointless to get a live tree and then leave town and let it die. It's also probably a fire hazard I'm guessing. So my mom did the right thing. It's been nice to have the tree. And although I hope we can get a real tree next year, this good old guy will probably be coming up from the basement again.
So. Anyway. If I had to define a theme for my tree it would be hard. But I'd say the main theme would be Kristen ornaments (as in my mom). Most of the ornaments, and most of my favorites have been made by her at some time during my life.
The sub theme would be animals, and below that would be birds, then fish. We have lots of birds and fish on the tree.
Such as this bird. Not made by mom this time, but a great deal at an after christmas sale last year, yay.
Here's our number 1 fish. She's the queen. It's the mama fish. Remember Max's best friend Mama Fish? (you can see her in a photo in this post if you need a refresher)
My mom made this mama fish for Max a few years ago, and somehow I've been able to keep him from kissing her to death. She's adorable and it's been fun to hang her on our tree every year.
Here's a sheepy that my mom made for me so long ago. I can't even come close to remembering what year. So cute.
(I love the way the christmas lights look back there behind it!)
And a more recent sheep by mom. Gorgeous, wearing a quilt as some sort of saddle blanket. These are the kind of ornaments I don't always get out when living in a house with hardwood floors, a small boy and a big dog. But this guy got to come out this year, and somehow survived!
Behind him you can see one of my Russian basilicas.
I got two of these little guys when I travelled to Russia and Siberia in college. I don't think they were meant to be christmas ornaments, but I thought they were perfect for the tree. And they're fun to hang up because I remember my trip.
My mom made this teeny tiny adorable tree for me when I was little. You can tell how small it is when you look at the lights compared to it. I always loved the miniscule ornaments she made out of clay. Amazing. I think this one may have been in 1989? Correct me if I'm wrong.
This was somehow not made by my mom, but by one of her friends. It came from the famed christmas party. I love it.
So that's just a little taste. I just grabbed my camera really quickly while cleaning up and took a few fun pictures before I packed all the ornaments away. But there are many more, and they're all special. I guess it's good to leave stuff to put up here next christmas. What if I ran out of things to talk about?!?
But I forgot to write about my christmas miracle. It had to do with the tree.
When we came back from Florida I plugged in the tree and realized that one of the strings of lights had gone out--at least half of it was out. So there was a big black spot on the tree. Kris didn't notice it and claimed to hardly be able to see it when I pointed it out. I really wanted to fix it, but things got a little crazy. I got new lights, but wasn't able to pin down enough time to take off a bunch of the ornaments, untangle the lights and then put them all back on. In fact, it was starting to sound really hard and stressful.
So I took Kris's advice and just ignored it (to the best of my ability.) It was hard because every time I saw the tree in the dark it kind of bummed me out. You girls know what I mean, right?
BUT here's the great part. When we came out on christmas morning all the lights were on. It did feel a little like a miracle, although I'm sure that miracle energy should be spent on much more important things. But it made me feel happy and good and blessed. And that's a good way to feel on christmas morning.
And this is officially my last christmas post of the 2008 holiday season.
9 comments:
Ginna
I like your saga of the tree. Great photos of the ornaments.
and your little miracle helps us remember that we are many times much more blessed than we realize.
love you all
Dad
That miracle has happened for me, too, a couple of times. But just as many times, I've taken the ornaments down and restrung the tree. Sometimes, right in the middle of it all, as I'm trying to remove the dead lights, they come back on again. Sigh. One time, the tree died after a week and I had to take EVERYTHING off of it (it was a live tree and had cost me six hours of lighting it and another several hours of decorating - this was before you guys were old enough to help) and take it back to Fred Meyer and get another one.
But it's probably good I did, because the house would have burned down that year, I just know it.
We just took the ornaments off today, having the wide fam come over tomorrow with ambulatory little guys. It always makes me sad. But the three of us worked on it, and talked, and took our time and tried to do it right. Your dad did all the heavy work with the boxes and garlands.
I just feel a little sad and worn out. Outside lights still - little defiant joys against the January darkness.
we miss you. By the way, I always keep a list of when the ornaments came to us, so I can tell you the years. You might do that, too - because there's a story in each one -
Beautiful tree Ginna! I love the story behind each ornament! We do that in our family too!
Purdy! You have a lovely nostalgic tree.
I thought I liked real trees too until I realized that fake trees are cleaner, easier to set up, don't poke you a billion times, and are friendlier to the environment!
Yep. converted.
Ohhh! I want to hear more about your Russia/Serbia adventures! Do posts from there on this blog?
Your mom is so talented and has made such beautiful ornaments among lots of other things too but it was fun to see the ones you did show. I really like the miniature tree out of beads. It is so small. i can't imagine making that let alone the little ornaments on it.
It is sad to put the tree away but then I always like the nice clean feeling of putting away all the clutter. It is fun to get out and enjoy but I also kind of like it when it is all put away. Notice I didn't say I enjoy putting it away. I hate that part.
Laura--
Unfortunately there are no russia trip blog entries. It was forever ago--1998. I wish I would've had a blog back then, it would have been awesome!
I'll have to scan some photos sometime though and put them up here, that would be fun.
No one answered the year of the sheep so I am going to give it ia try:
We were married in 1982 and your mom made the snowflake cross stitch pillow ornament. Of this I am quite sure. I don't think we attended the ornament party when we were single.
Then there is the sheep, the stuffed white Christmas goose, and then the breaddough/glue hobby horse. I was spoiled and she made the ornaments for me even though I didn't win them at the party.
I'm not sure which came first, the sheep or the white goose, so '83 or '84. My gut says goose before sheep, but I coudl be wrong. I think the fabric ornaments came before the breaddough/glue ornament though.
The year we moved back here, 2000, it was the lathe ornaments, I think, but I didn't get one.
This year I got one of her ornaments at the party, the beaded wired snowflake. I cheated. I thought the paper looked like something she'd choose and so I chose it.
I love the stories behind the ornaments! They make them my favorite part of Christmas decorations.
Love your tree miracle. Heavenly Father loves us so much that even the little things He knows that are important to us he gives.
Our tree this year has been funny. It is a gorgeous live tree. Brian did the lights and garland.......ummm, he doesn't know how. Ssshhh, don't tell anyone. Half of the garland is hanging off the tree and the lights..well, 3/4 have burnt out and our tree just gets sadder and sadder each day and I really need to take it down because the garland and lights are TOTALLY BUGGING ME but it is such a gorgeous tree....I don't wanna.
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