Raise your hand if you think this tree will be destroyed before December 25th!
While the ‘Cakes was sleeping yesterday, I cautiously climbed the pull-down attic stairs to retrieve our decorations. The small boxes were a cinch. The oversized Rubbermaid tub — not so much. If you look down when you’re at the top of the attic steps, you can see down to the first floor. It’s a little bit scary. I was glad that I decided to climb up there in my bedroom slippers instead of something more practical like … say… shoes with soles.
If you look VERY closely at the tree, you might notice that it’s decked with Shiny Bright ornaments. I love them! I started collecting them in college when I worked at an antique store, but I hated their individual price tags. I purchased some at auctions, but my best find was at a church rummage sale in Somewhere, Maryland where I scored four boxes of them for ONE WHOLE DOLLAR. The auxilary club’s trash became my favorite holiday treasure.
As expected, Babycakes adores her Christmas tree. In the left column of this blog, I should start an Ornament MIA list beginning with Christmas Caroling Ernie. She ripped him off the tree sometime between breakfast and her morning nap. He is 3 inches tall, black hair, orange skin, carrying a hymnal — small reward for his return.
Decorating the tree with a starry-eyed toddler reminded me of how much I enjoyed helping my own mother at Christmas. In our house, music was an important part of the season and so each event whether decorating or baking was accompanied by our special songs of the season. We all had our favorite records. My mom liked Barbra Mandrel. My dad liked Mitch’s Sing Along (sticking fingers down my throat — ack!). My sister — the Smurf’s Christmas Album. My brother — he’s such a baby and was born in the age of CDs. As for me, I’m still trying to figure out what Loretta Lynn’s singing about when she and her cousins were making “ballets on the floor”. It’s just not December without Loretta’s Country Christmas.
(*sigh*)
What?! You don’t have it?!!!
The shame.
* After listening to this song umpteen times, I have concluded that the folks at lyrics.com are wrong. Loretta and her cousins were definitely making “pile-ups on the floor.”
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
LOL!! I had Loretta Lynn’s Country Christmas album growing up… and I still do (on cassette)!! I loved it, and my sisters loved Anne Murray and Brenda Lee. (No, I’m actually not that old…early 30′s, my husband makes fun of me and says I belong back in the 70′s!!) Your tree looks great! I think this year will be the first time in 7 years our trees will stay somewhat in tact, with my youngest being 4 now he takes pride in his own ornaments being up there and knows the minute someone has moved them! Enjoy the season!!
I am ashamed. I can’t believe that I don’t own Loretta Lynn’s Christmas album. Do you think it’s on myspacemusic?
Should have given you my “first Christmas with a mobile child” secret earlier. We always had douglas firs, except for the first year each of the boys was mobile. Those years we got blue spruce trees. They each only touched the tree one time. Cruel, but effective.
This will be the first year my 3 yr old will have experienced a tree at home; we’re always visiting family 1,000 miles away for Christmas. Suffice to say, we’re all excited. Though I probably should take a note from your book and keep a tally of missing/ broken ornaments after our tree goes up.
Christmas music in the Punk household includes Gene Autry’s Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and The Muppets (with John Denver) Christmas album (that I can’t recall the title of).
… I hate Christmas music. I’m such a humbug, I know. And while there’s something very satisfying about Miss Piggy singing “Fiiiiiive gooooolden riiings… ba-dum-bum-bump,” and Animal howling “RUN RUN REINDEER,” that’s pretty much the extent of my patience.
LOVE the tree!!!!!! Super cute.