Christmas Vacation

We finally braved the tree farms this weekend to claim our first real tree since our first year of marriage. When we decided that this would be the year to start this tradition, I went on the hunt for the perfect tree farm. I wanted the whole sha-bang! I wanted to walk with the family, singing Christmas carols, down rows and rows of beautiful trees. When we would all of the sudden come across the most beautiful and perfect tree. We then watch my oh so strong hubby cut it down and we would all haul it back to the van. I know, you're already laughing right!


Well I found the perfect tree farm, relatively close, that we could cut down our own tree. We set out this afternoon to do just that. This weekend has already been one of those weekends where in everything that we seem to do, it doesn't go how I envisioned. I was determined for that NOT to be the case today. You're laughing again, I hear you. Hell, I'm laughing just writing this.


The tree farm was a little farther than I had thought it was. The tree farm no longer lets you cut your own, unless you want a huge tree that is on the outskirts of the farm. The sweet owner has flown in trees from Wyoming and S. Carolina for his patrons. They are tied to stakes (just like at the grocery stores or LOCAL places). You point to one, they carry it back for you, they bag it for you, and then they graciously tie it to your car. Needless to say, we could have driven about 5 minutes away and done the exact same thing. Oh well, we're creating memories. This would be the first time in my head I am thinking why can't things ever go like I want them to





Here it is!!



We get the tree home and get it up in the house.


Then the lights must go on it.


 By this time the girls are running around the living room with several boxes of ornaments and are NOT listening to us tell them to put them down. Ryan and I quickly get the lights up.

Now it is time....ornament time.


Again, in my mind here is what I am envisioning: fireplace going, White Christmas playing in the background over and over, hot chocolate sitting on the tables, children cautiously and carefully placing ornaments on our gorgeous tree. They would place it and then stand back to see their masterpiece. Ryan and I would stand holding each other watching our lovely children have a great time creating our tree. Ok really if you're not laughing now, you must really have this happen at your house. To which I say Bah Humbug!

This is how it really went: Ella kept seeing all of Chase's ornaments and wanted to hang them all up to which Chase screamed at her for touching HIS ornaments. Kyndall wouldn't hang up a single ornament but did want to touch every single one. Then she wanted to eat the lights on the tree. I don't know how many times I said "looking with your eyes means you DON'T touch". Ava eating all the needles that fell off of the tree. Chase being pissed off at his sister and then mad at me because I wasn't dropping everything to hang lights in his room. Then at one point the whole ahh watch out bad word alert damn tree fell down. Ornaments flew as I attempted to catch it and avoid all sorts of trauma. We had a few ornament casualities, nothing that super glue can't fix. At one point, Ella was in her room crying and Kyndall was hiding under her little desk in the living room. Really rolling on the floor, is that necessary?





There were several moments when tears came to my eyes and I just wanted to scream "why can't we have that picture perfect tree decorating ceremony!!!". But, I never did. I realized that this is us. This is how we roll and sometimes I wish I had something else but that would be so boring!! So I took a step back and watched as they hung their ornaments in the same spot over and over. I helped them as they got upset because a real tree isn't as decorator friendly as a fake tree. I ohh and ahhed over their tree, our tree. And as we ate our dinner I showed them that if they thought the tree looked good now, look at it with the house lights off. They thought it was beautiful and wanted the lights to stay off.



We may have a little Griswold in our holiday behavior but that is ok. I know it makes memories. I mean really, can't you already hear C. telling his wife and kids about this later. I can and it makes me laugh. Needless to say our tree is up and looks great. There might or might not be some rearranging of ornaments since it is a bit unbalanced. I am just happy we have a memory to write about and three very special little ones to celebrate this time of year with. And a wonderful husband that keeps my tears from really falling when it doesn't go my way. Love you all!! Oh and no I don't have a picture of the finished tree. My camera is not working properly with the flash so it leaves for the Canon hospital tomorrow.


The love of my life at Christmas. I love this little angel of mine.