Over the years our tree decorating has evolved. Originally Ray was in charge of stringing the lights, and the rest of the family put up the ornaments. Then I wanted more lights on the tree, and ended up doing that part myself. Now that the kids are all out of the house we have an artificial pre-lit tree, and I'm in charge of decorating it.
It is no fun for me to decorate a tree all by myself, so the last few years the grandkids have helped. It's delightful to watch them put the ornaments on. It used to be the lower third of the tree got all the ornaments. Now they extend a little higher each year.
Traditionally we put up the tree the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and the kids are all here to help. Not so this year. Audrey's family did not come for Thanksgiving. Poor Matthew was so distraught about not helping that I promised to save him two boxes of ornaments to put on when he came this last weekend. We still put up the tree, thinking Madeleine, Rachel and Diane could help. Slight problem: the lights on the tree didn't work. So we bagged the idea of decorating the tree. Madeleine requested still decorating a few other things, so she helped me put up a couple of nativities, and she put all the candies in the Christmas countdown calendar.
We returned the tree and got one that worked (the beauty of shopping at Costco). Saturday was the day to decorate. Matthew and Austin could hardly contain themselves in anticipation. We had a pancake breakfast, then it was time to get the ornaments on the tree. Austin put on a few, then he was done. Matthew single-handedly put all the rest of the ornaments on the tree. Elizabeth handed him the ornaments, and he hung them. He stood on the stool to reach as high as he could. He actually distributed them pretty evenly.
So the tree is up, the decorations are up, and I can sit and enjoy it all, thinking of my grandchildren who helped me with all of it.
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| Madeleine and Diane unpacking a box |
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| Madeleine |
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| Elizabeth |
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| Matthew |
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| Matthew |
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Elizabeth. We only had one ornament casualty. Hence the vacuum in the background.
Deck the Halls old Welsh air
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Love your advent calendar. I want to make one for my great niece and nephew, where did you get the pattern.
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