Trimming the Tree

Apparently, I'm ready for the Christmas season to start in earnest. Much to S's surprise, on Thanksgiving day I requested Christmas music to be played all day long. He swears that in previous years I'd drawn a line in the sand and said No Holiday Music Until The Day After Thanksgiving! Funny but I don't recall insisting on such a moratorium.

As I said to him when he expressed his astonishment, "Well, it's good to keep you guessing a little bit, isn't it?"

Then yesterday I suggested that we put up the Christmas tree, which really threw S for a loop. It seems that he had been working under the assumption that we'd get a real tree this year and that this wouldn't happen for quite some time. Granted, he's well aware that I'm not all that fond of artificial trees. But I have to admit, they are so much easier with the kids and the cats. Don't have to worry about the water, the shedding needles, the possibility of triggering BJ's allergies....

Once the kids had overheard that we were considering putting up the tree, there was no going back. And Nana didn't seem to mind hanging out with us while we put up the tree; at one point while planning the holiday weekend, she'd invited me and the kids to go shopping with her. Instead, on the rainy day after Thanksgiving, we ended up spending a nice, cozy Friday at home, far from the crowds. (Which, incidentally, is exactly how I'd prefer to spend Black Friday. Especially when it allows me to keep a close eye on my Etsy shop, which has had a few sales! Did I mention that I'm running a sale this weekend? You can check out my shop announcement for details.) S braved the weather to get down into the cellar and drag up the decorations, and we went to work.

In my book, if you're going to get an artificial tree, why not embrace the fakey-fakey look? Imitation ice crystals and all. (Because we get so much snow and ice here in California. Dontchaknow.)
Plus, it's really easy for the kids to decorate! As we know, trimming the tree is serious work.
But there's also room for fun. (Actually, there were many more smiles than looks of intense concentration -- I just didn't get very many good pictures!)
Nana was kind enough to try for a family shot in the middle of everything. Unfortunately, every one we took has BJ showing the camera an ornament. Right In Front Of His Face.
In all honesty, I'm a little surprised myself at my eagerness to start up with the Christmas stuff so soon. I think much of it is the realization that this will be our last Christmas here in the house. Some of it is certainly the awareness that Christmas is less than a month away. (Where HAS the year gone???) I'm already working on several to-do lists for the holiday and worrying about getting everything done. But, remarkably (so far at least) I'm keeping the stress level pretty low. May that continue!