Oh, Christmas Tree

"Should we take down the tree today?" Hubby asked me last night after we returned from our final Christmas celebration.

"Well, we can, if you want to, but I was planning to do it Thursday or Friday." I was nestled in my cozy chair with laptop on my lap and knitting needles in hand--I was trying to follow a video on YouTube. The last thing I wanted to do was drag out the Christmas storage boxes. Besides there's a tradition to putting up and taking down the tree.

I love to put up our tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. To me, that kicks off the official holiday season with Advent beginning that Sunday. I enjoy our tree for the rest of November and all of December. I love seeing the glow of lights through our living room window as darkness descends.

I started blogging about the 25 days of Christmas ornaments, but that fell to the wayside as other tasks like knitting took a higher priority. I love my Christmas ornaments. As I've mentioned before, each one tells a story. This year I received three new ornaments that have found their way onto a branch.

When Christmas is over and the New Year has officially begun, I want to start fresh--put the previous year behind more and move into the new year with new expectations. A friend leaves her tree up through Epiphany. I can understand that. A pet peeve, though, is seeing Christmas decorations on houses and in yards in February. Seriously?

So I have less than a week to appreciate my tree until next year when we put it up again. Most of the ornaments will get packed in bubble wrap and tissue paper, but a few will find new homes around the house.

When do you take down your tree? Are you sick of it by then?

25 Days of Christmas Ornaments Day 5, 6, 7, & 8

I had a very busy weekend and got behind on blogging, so today's post covers four days of ornaments. They're all handmade by the same person--my father-in-law. He and I share a common love--the beach and seashelling. In fact, he introduced us to our favorite FL getaway spot--Sanibel Island--a barrier reef island off the Southwestern Gulf coast of Florida.

Sanibel Island is a quiet barrier reef island off the southwestern Gulf coast of Florida. In order to get onto the island, you have to drive over a causeway that connects Sanibel Island to Fort Myers. The island is one of the seashell hot spots in the world.

My father-in-law spends hours on the Sanibel beaches digging deep in the sand for tiny coquina shells. He uses the pastel-colored shells to create flower petals for his ornaments. I love these ornaments because of the time and craftsmanship that went into creating the intricate petals. I love the beach, so the ornaments remind me of floaty tropical breezes, warm sand, and family memories. But most of all, I love these ornaments because of who they came from. I love my father-in-law. He and Hubby are very close. He adores our growing boys. I love spending time with him when he visits from Florida. The best gifts come from the heart.

25 Days of Christmas Ornaments Day 4

One of my best friends and I have been friends since first grade, I think. She is one of the sweetest, most generous people I know. My boys call her Aunt Susie. Every year for Christmas, she sent them ornaments, which is a tradition we cherish. Not because we got stuff, but because the ornaments have meaning and touch our hearts.

This mukluk is one of the ornaments Susan sent the year our youngest son was born. Our youngest son is a very tactile person--he loves to touch and responds to textures. When he was little and helped decorate the tree, he used to stroke the fur cuffs and the felt soles.

Susan lived in Alaska at the time hence the mukluks. She faced some life-changing challenges while living there. I remember a three-hour phone conversation we had about those new circumstances. So when I look at the mukluks, they remind me that life's circumstances can sometimes make us stronger and more appreciative of the relationships we have. I'm thankful for my friendship with Susan. I love her like a sister and appreciate the laughter and joy she brings to my life...not only at Christmas, but every day throughout the year.

25 Days of Christmas Ornaments Day 3

Even though Hubby and I didn't have a Christmas tree for the first two years of our marriage, we did receive ornaments--for us and our son, who was born a year after we married.

The blue ornament was one I bought after our son was born. I thought the sleeping baby was precious and reminded me of Jesus coming to earth as a baby--the true reason for the season.

This teddy bear was given to our son by my dad and step-mom. The wooden bear is heavy and needs a sturdy branch for support. As I mentioned in yesterday's post, Hubby was in California for 10 months while I moved back home with our son. No, we weren't separated due to marital problems. We felt it would be easier moving a household once instead of twice. Plus he was stationed in the desert. There are snakes in the desert. 'Nuff said.

For that first PA Christmas, we had a real tree. Our son was 13 1/2 months old and walking all over the place. The teddy bear dangled from a lower branch. Our little darling tugged on the bear and ended up pulling the entire tree over. He sat on the floor surrounded by pine branches and held that teddy bear in his chubby fist. He looked at me with a toothy grin and said, "Uh oh."

From that day on, the ornament became known as the "Uh Oh" bear. Every year we hang him on the tree and my son says, "Remember when I pulled the tree down?"

Oh, yes, I remember...the memories of panic, stripping off his clothes to make sure there were no cuts and bruises, keeping him away from the broken bulbs have faded, but seeing the expression on his face as he looked at the tree and looked at the bear, and then at me...that'll live on forever.

25 Days of Christmas Ornaments Day 2

The first year Hubby and I were married, we didn't put up a tree because we were living in South Carolina where he was stationed in the USMC and planned to return to PA for Christmas.

The second year we were married, our son was 6 weeks old and we weren't planning to do a tree that year for the same reason--going home for Christmas.

Hubby received orders to 29 Palms, CA. We left South Carolina. DS #1 and I moved back to PA while Hubby finished out his enlistment. He came home for Christmas and we put up our first tree. We didn't have a lot of money, so I made beaded candy canes and wreaths to decorate our tree. My mom crocheted us the adorable stockings. I add the candy canes and wreaths each year to remind us of those humble times when money was tight...it's not exactly flowing now, but we've come a long way.
The stockings remind me of Mom and the larger stockings she made for us when we were kids. Mine is in my cedar chest. When Hubby and I got married and had our boys, she made us a set, but I packed them away because they were getting worn. I wanted my boys to be able to have theirs when they had their families. It's all about tradition, you know. 

25 Days of Christmas Ornaments Day 1

One of my favorite family traditions is putting the tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving. Each ornament has a special meaning--tells a story about our family.

This Santa is the only ornament I have from my childhood. A family friend made us--my brother, my sister, and me--Santas. Mine is the one pictured. The pom-pom broke of his hat. My brother had one of Santa holding a green sack. My sister's Santa was heading down the chimney.

This Santa reminds me of happier times of my childhood. Huge family get-togethers at my grandparents' house. Going to bed and whispering to my sister, wondering what we'd find under the tree.

Every year our boys receive a new ornament. When they have their own families, the ornaments can hang on their tree. Will they look at them and remember our traditions? Will those ornaments bring back happy memories. I hope so.