I have always wanted to have our own Christmas traditions that commence with a tree setting-up date. I remember that as a kid, we would set our tree up on the first Friday of December. Mum would go to a ‘mothers club’ dinner and we would stay up late to decorate the tree. Instead of the lights being on the tree, Dad always stuck our lights to the lounge room window. I always thought that it was so that we would have the most colourful light display in town, but I think the real reason was so that the flickering glow didn’t disturb dad’s tv watching.
Anyway, back to the point, our Christmas tree traditions or lack thereof. Pre monsters, the tree (if we had one) went up on the first of December, but we didn’t always have a tree so it didn’t really count. We tried growing a real tree but that wasn’t so good, it didn’t survive. We have used a candelabra instead of a tree in an attempt to be festive. Other years we weren’t going to be around so we didn’t even have a tree.
Now that we have a family, I want our own tradition. I want the kids to look forward to setting up the tree just as I did when I was a kid. The first Friday in December seemed like an easy date to remember, the kids could stay up later to help. The plan was great, but then extra-curricular activities got in the way – the first Friday is the dress rehearsal for the dance performance. The Saturday is the performance and Sunday is recovery. As a result we have no traditions.
I was thinking that we would set up the tree this Sunday, recovery day, but as a result of a crap day today, the pester-power of the monsters and needing some cheering up, we set up the tree today.
Building the Tree
I think we have officially out-grown our tree, boy-child now towers over it!
Broken Baubles
Now I remember why we primarily have tacky plastic baubles instead of pretty glass ones!
Snack Break
Setting up a ‘giant’ Christmas tree sure is hungry work!
All Smiles
The kids were happy having officially started Christmas.
The fun and dramas setting up the tree lifted my spirits and has made me grateful for having a fantastic family.
