Christmas Tree

Thursday I got out of work early enough to meet my family for dinner at Pei Wei and then go pick out a Christmas tree. Of course, right as we left dinner, it started to rain. The boys were excited about going to get the tree though, so we went in spite of the rain.

We lucked out in finding our tree. It was the very first tree we walked up to in the lot.

ES took this photo of me, YB, and LW holding our tree.

Happy ES in the car with his tree.

Since it was all wet when we got home Thursday night, we just put it in a bucket of water in the garage for the time being. Then Friday, we set up the tree stand in the family room, put the tree in it, and cut the mesh netting off it to let the branches fall.

Saturday we put the lights on and hung the ornaments while watching the Army-Navy football game.

The location we chose for the Christmas tree in our new house allowed the boys to get some ornaments around the BACK side of the tree this year.


I discovered there were FOUR ornaments hanging from the branch right there directly in front of YB standing on the chair. The branch was bent WAAAAAY down. As I approached it, I had a quick-flash daydream of the ornament farthest out slipping off the branch and the branch flipping up like a catapult, flinging the other three ornaments off in an arc across the kitchen and into the crock pot where our pot roast is simmering for dinner. Luckily, I got there in time, relieved the strain on the branch, and dispersed the ornaments to other branches.

It was ES's turn to put the star on top this year.

Ta Da!

This is a momentous occasion:
ES is smiling and posting for the camera.

And now, I shall once again entertain you with my not-so-poetic prose.

Ode to Decorating the Christmas Tree

Deeeeep deeeep sleeeeeep...
DADDY DADDY WAKE UP IT'S TIME TO PUT DECORATE THE CHRISTMAS TREE!
Ngh. Head hurts. Sinuses blocked.
Shuffle shuffle shuffle, DayQuil.
Shuffle shuffle shuffle, coffee.
Can we start now Daddy?

Unpacking new LED lights from boxes.
Plastic bags. Tape. Wire ties. UL tag. Obligatory cautionary inserts to prevent people from doing stupid stuff and filing frivolous lawsuits.
Aw man, I can't sue them if I plus them into a 220V outlet and wrap them around my lawnmower blades. Shucks.
Cut cut cut annoying tags and legal disclaimers off cord.
Daddy, is it ready yet?

Spin spin spin lights around the tree.
Ngh. Head hurts.
Open another box of lights.
More plastic bags, more tape, more wire ties, more UL tags and legal disclaimers.
Cut cut cut.
Flashback: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - nibble nibble kitty, FOOSH! Hee hee.
Daddy, is it ready yet?

Spin spin spin lights around the tree.
Ngh. Head still hurts.
Open another box of lights.
More bags, tape, wire ties, UL tag, disclaimers.
Cut cut cut.
Daddy, is it ready yet?

Spin spin spin lights around the tree.

Doh.

Ran out of lights, not quite all the way to the bottom of the tree yet.
Self, that's okay, plug it in and see how it looks first.
Reach for end of lights.

Doh.

Female end of Christmas light strand hangs at the bottom of the tree.

Daddy is it ready yet?

Bite tongue.

Unspin unspin unspin.
Unspin unspin unspin.
Unspin unspin unspin.

Rest. Arms sore. Head still hurts.

Spin spin spin.
(A little farther apart this time to make sure they cover the whole tree)
Spin spin spin.
Spin spin spin.

Plug it in, lights look good.

Mommy says, "Who wants to put the ornaments on the tree?"

Silence.

Crickets chirp.

Mommy says, "Who wants to put the ornaments on the tree?"

Crickets chirp.

Mommy says, "MOMMY'S PUTTING THE ORNAMENTS ON THE TREE!!!"

Pitter patter, pitter patter, pitter patter.
Thump thump thump thump coming up the stairs from down cellar.

Mine.
No mine!
Mine.
No mine!
Spread them out boys.
YB says, "This one's my favorite."
Mommy, look at Santa disco dancing.
Put some around the back boys.
YB says, "This one's my favorite."
Don't hang them from the beads boys.

DayQuil finally kicks in, head starts to clear.

Deploying step stool.
Lifting seven year old on shoulders. Oof. How'd he get so big?
Standing on step stool, leaning forward for seven year old to reach the top...
Wondering if this will end up in Naval Safety Center weekly message of personnel injuries.
Turn head toward Mommy, smile for camera.
Ta Da!
Mission accomplished.

I am thankful for those of you who are serving our country and separated from your families over the holidays. Wherever you are, I hope you are all enjoying the festivities of the Christmas season.