December 3, 2007
my tree has no balls and no skirt
We are the only house on our block that has not been fully decked out since the day after Thanksgiving. I like to claim that I am old school and do not believe in starting the Christmas season until after the first Sunday in Advent, but really I am just lazy.
And also overwhelmed by the decorating possibilities.
Over the weekend, we got out our tree, which is wee and tiny, and put it up in the playroom. We put colored lights on it, because that’s what the kids wanted, and all of our ornaments, which have no rhyme or reason but plenty of sentimental value. Including the one Charlie broke. Dammit.
So we’re feeling all proud of ourselves (tree up! woo hoo!) when the kids start to ask when we’re going to FINISH decorating. And they start asking for light-up reindeer and an angel playing the trumpet and a Baby Jesus in a creche for the front yard! And more lights! Lots and lots of lights! And maybe a wreath or two, for good measure.
So I did what anyone would do and said OH SURE I CAN DO THAT! Because how hard can it be to buy some wreaths and a tree and a reindeer?
Are you laughing at me? Because you should be.
I was determined NOT to come home with any animatronic light-up deer, no matter HOW many times the kids asked for them, because no way no how was I having light-up reindeer in my yard. I was going for tasteful and minimalist. And also done.
I came home with three wreaths. Only this one is staying.
The other two are the wrong size and the hangers don’t work and OH MY GOD WREATHS! HEEEELLLLPPPP MEEEEEE!!!!
Ahem.
I also bought a tree.
Seven and a half feet of Niagra pine. Pre-lit plastic Niagra pine, but still! So pretty. It looks lovely in our foyer, although my mother is looking at this photo and wondering if I’m going to DECORATE it or leave it like that.
I’m going to decorate; I have beautiful silver balls (shut UP) to hang on it. Too bad I forgot the hooks for the ornaments. And also the skirt.
There are still no decorations outside my house; you can see the tree through the front doors (note to self: those doors have GOT to go) but otherwise, we’ve got nothing. So tomorrow, when I go to return the wreaths and the wreath hangers and the bathroom rug that is too small (not Christmas, just wrong), I will most likely pick up some animated light up reindeer. Because I have surrendered all taste and given in to my kids. It’s so much easier that way.
Posted by Susan @ 9:13 pm • home sweet home
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December 3rd, 2007 at 9:56 pm, Angella Says:
Oh, girl. I relate. I had to get hooks today.
But your title?
Cracked me up.
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:25 pm, merrymishaps Says:
I was laughing at the title, too.
I have yet to assemble my crappy fake tree. The kind where you have to install each branch one at a time.
I am so replacing it for next year once everything’s 70% off at Target …
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:35 pm, All Adither Says:
I will resist the temptation to get a fake tree. I will. Ahem.
December 4th, 2007 at 7:14 am, chichimama Says:
Paper clips make lovely ornament hangers. Just saying.
And you are a better parent than I. I just laughed at my kids when the asked for the Santa on the roof and the light up reindeer.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:10 am, Deva Says:
our cats would climb a tree, we think. and we still live in an apartment. I am still wondering how I am going to keep them away from the hanukkah candles tonight.
December 4th, 2007 at 10:17 am, Kimmie Says:
Dh is in charge of putting our crappy tree together and putting the lights on it.
I sooooo want a skinnier-prelit tree but we just bought this one 2 or 3 years ago so then I have guilt.
This is the same guilt that makes me put the years-old tree skirt my grandma made around the ugly tree.
December 4th, 2007 at 10:22 am, Mandy Says:
My tree is slanted. And from 1970. It’s one of those super thin and tall ones from back in the day. My boyfriend’s mom insisted that we have it because we have high ceilings in our condo. We don’t have a tree skirt, either. And since it’s only our second Christmas as big kids, we have like four ornaments.
(Sigh). Let the holidays begin!
December 4th, 2007 at 10:57 am, Elleana Says:
Oh, I surrendered too. I have not one, but TWO animatronic reindeer in my yard. And also candy canes. And spiral trees. I have given up all hope of having a tasteful Christmas until the kids are older. Maybe then I’ll also have a house free of bright plastic toys…hey, a girl can dream.
December 4th, 2007 at 11:17 am, arduous Says:
chichimama I use paper clips too! no one even notices that they are paper clips. I think I got that one from my mom.
December 4th, 2007 at 11:50 am, Susie Says:
At least they aren’t asking for one of the inflatable atrocities. There is a house 3 doors down that has one of everything. It seriously rivals the Griswold’s in National Lampoon’s Christmas. My son thinks it’s the BEST HOUSE EVER. I think it looks like a bunch of elves got drunk and trashed the place.
December 4th, 2007 at 12:20 pm, Jamie Says:
Oh yes Susie! The inflatable things. There is a house in our neighborhood that has (no kidding) at least 25 if not more of those things. They also had a turkey for Thanksgiving, and about 10 different ones for Halloween. Gawdy!
December 4th, 2007 at 2:02 pm, She Likes Purple Says:
I love that wreath! It’s fantastic.
December 4th, 2007 at 3:48 pm, Tricia Says:
We decorate because we kind of have to, but I draw the line at inflatables.
The 2 reindeer, one candy cane tree, two polar bears, and 1 snowman are enough. Plus, of course, the lights on the house. Tacky, tacky is good…somewhere…right?
December 4th, 2007 at 4:06 pm, Pamela Says:
Do you have a TJMaxx? I just discovered a lovely trove of Christmas stuff over there. The new tree is so pretty.
December 4th, 2007 at 6:48 pm, Laura Says:
Where did you get the wreath? It is great.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:28 pm, kat Says:
wow that is one tall tree and it is beautiful!
December 4th, 2007 at 10:33 pm, Wendy Says:
Your tree beez naked.
December 5th, 2007 at 11:35 am, Mir Says:
I have electric candle lamps in the windows and every other house in the neighborhood rivals the Griswalds. We feel so… plain.
December 6th, 2007 at 6:04 am, Sherri Says:
Sympathies…I have friends who have had their trees up and decorated for 2 weeks and all their presents wrapped, I hate peer pressure. Our tree is up!!! Yipee-it looks charile brownish but that gives it character right? Now I have a cookie exchange to attend, 8 dozen of what?? Sigh.
December 6th, 2007 at 8:18 am, gorillabuns Says:
i compromised with the girls, the blow-up santa is in the BACK YARD.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:50 am, amy Says:
we have a candle in every window. also…we bought a HUGE plain wreath a few years back, and wrapped it in 4 strands of lights and stuck a big red bow on it and a few red berries. it is quite lovely-and simple. spent less than twenty bucks on the thing. just tell the kiddos no. it is what our parents would have said to us. they will grow up with good taste. I say leave your tree the way it is…and then serioulsy but the decorations for it AFTER the holiday when they are on sale. have the kids make stuff for it this year like snowfalkes and string cranberries and maybe some simple origami. that is a stunning wreath over your fireplace.
December 9th, 2007 at 9:41 am, Dana Says:
If it makes you feel better, I didn’t put the tree up until last night!!!
December 10th, 2007 at 11:40 pm, MommyWithAttitude Says:
Hilarious! We had to put the tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving, but we just realized the kids haven’t asked us to put up the outside lights yet — and there’s NO WAY we will mention it! We’re awful.
December 11th, 2007 at 7:11 pm, Kimenz Says:
For several years, early in December, a friend of mine had a Naked Tree Party. Everyone was invited for snacks and cocktails, and were to bring one ornament of their choice for the host’s tree. It was a great excuse for some early holiday fun and she now has a very ecclectic collection of ornaments.