Each year when I take down the tree, I put away only strings of lights that are working. Why is it then that when I take them out of storage and check there are some that have died during the year?
Gray Girl likes to help or hinder depending on your point of view.
I am not ashamed to admit that I used bribery (again) to accomplish my goals. I invited the kids and granddaughters over to help with promises of a spaghetti supper. *Note: I can make other dishes really! Spaghetti happens to be one of their favorites meals. And it is so easy. :}
We went with a smaller tree this year and the girls couldn't get all of the decorations on, but I am very pleased with their tree trimming ability.
The stockings are all hung-we added 3 new ones this year for Sara, Grace and Christopher. Our son-in-law remarried this fall and we love his new family. So Sara is an adopted daughter-in-law and her kids are now our grandchildren, too. That makes 8 granddaughters and one grandson!
Okay, where was I? Oh yes, 'the stockings were all hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.'
As I said, not enough room on the tree for all the decorations so we improvised. The fern looks very festive now. Each year, I get angel ornaments for the granddaughters . Eventually, when they move out on their own they will get their angels to decorate their own tree.
As I said, not enough room on the tree for all the decorations so we improvised. The fern looks very festive now. Each year, I get angel ornaments for the granddaughters . Eventually, when they move out on their own they will get their angels to decorate their own tree.
And starting this year, a nut cracker for Christopher!
This angel is this year's ornament.
Amie decided I needed to have some of my collection of angels and Father Christmas out on display."Mom, it feels more like Christmas when these are out!" "Okay, but you do the arranging", said I!
And she did and I am very happy to see some treasures from past Christmases.
This nativity is one we have had for years. It is always the center of the decorations. My girls loved to move the figures around and now, so do the grand girls. As with my girls, we tell them the story of the first Christmas when Baby Jesus was born.
And she did and I am very happy to see some treasures from past Christmases.
This nativity is one we have had for years. It is always the center of the decorations. My girls loved to move the figures around and now, so do the grand girls. As with my girls, we tell them the story of the first Christmas when Baby Jesus was born.
Like some other bloggers, I probably won't get a chance to post again before Christmas. So I want to wish each and every one of you,
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
35 comments:
Beckie,
Hello~~your tree and decorations are delightful. A perfect setting for your family Christmas. What a wonderful time you're family will have this weekend, the house will be filled with love and celebration. Beckie, you have a loving and generous soul to have welcomed your new adopted daughter-in-law and her children unconditionally into your heart and family. ~~Beckie your cup runneth over with love!
ps If bribery works we parents must use it!
Gail
Gail, Our house will be a zoo this weekend! It always is when we have all the grandkids here and the rest of the family. But I wouldn't have it any other way.
Donavin-Andrea's husband and the father of #4 daughter is our son, biological or not! We love him dearly and are so happy that he has found someone he can share his life with. Sara is a very giving person who has accepted his relationhip with us and taken our family into her heart.
You can not live your life with the 'what might have beens', you have to live it with what you are given.
Sorry to go on and on. :} Have a wonderful Christmas with your son and GF. I know you are sooo happy he is going to be there for the holidays.
There is one thing to be said for those smaller trees, I love them. We too have a small tree. It's easy to decorate, easy to store and they don't get in the way. The girls did a great job decorating yours. I'm very envious of you Beckie, you get to see Christmas through the eyes of children. I know you will enjoy every minute with them.
I enjoyed looking at all your decorations and love the angels. They really are pretty.
Well dear friend I pray that you will have a wonderful Christmas holiday. Be safe and warm and enjoy!!!
Merry Christmas to you, Beckie! I hope you and your family have a very blessed Christmas season with much joy, love and peace!
Beckie, your house looks so beautiful. I love all your stockings hung by the chimney with care... I see a whole lot of love oozing around the house. Merry Christmas to you too. Give S a big Hug for me.
After Gray Girl is finished untagling your Christmas lights, can you send her over here to do mine? They're just so tricky. There's some tuna in it for her, plus the ability to meet one very friendly and lovable orange cat and one cautiously friendly dilute tortie! ~ Monica
Beckie, There's no lack of love in your house! So many stockings! You are in a situation like my husband's parents. My husband's youngest brother was killed in a car accident at the age of 34, leaving his 2 young daughters, ages 2 and 5, and a young wife. His wife remarried a few years later, and his parents welcomed the new husband eagerly. They remain close to their grandchildren, and to their son's wife. I'll look forward to your return to blogging after the holidays. Merry Christmas! Jan
Beckie, I love the fern all decked out with angels:) I'm still working on decorating here, but your house looks very festive. Have a wonderful celebration this weekend with the granddaughters!
Beckie everything is decked out with that holiday spirit!You have many blessings. Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas!
Susie, usually we get a hbigger tree, but somehow this year it seemed to much to move furniture around. It's going to be crowded here anyways. So the smaller tree works great. And I think it's cure! :}
Christmas is for the kids. I was so glad when we starting having grand kids to be able to see their delight.
You have a wonderful blessed Christmas too!
Robin, thank you. I hope you and your family have a glorious Christmas!
Lisa, thanks, but I can't take credit for the decorations. They did a great job! I will hug S for you and you give the 'Champ' our love. Hope your Christmas is especially wonderful this year.
Monica, she is not very social when it comes to other cats. And actually isn't the best help with Christmas either. She likes to crawl into bags aand leave cat hair! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
Jan, we have 15 stockings up this year. Anymore and we will have to enlarge the fireplace.:} Your inlaws were very generous. It's hard to lose a loved one a=, but in thse situations you want the best for the kids and their spouse. I have never understood how people can not want them to be as happy as they can.
Happy Holidays to you and your family, Jan!
Rose, if not for the girls, I wouldn't be doing much decorating. I am finding it hard to get as much done as I usually do. And that is only working part time. I know we used to do it all-raise young kids, work full time and still get everything else done. It can't be age can it? Nah!
The weather today put my plans on hold-but I did get most of the presents wrapped. Good luck with finishing your projects for Christmas. Don't forget you have some baking to do. :}
Nature Girl, I do feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family. And we enjoy Christmas with each other. Happy Holidays to you and your famliy!
I'd decorate for a spagetti dinner too:) One of our favorites as well. It all looks delightful with all those stockings and decorations you are ready for Santa now. Have a great holiday.
Dear Beckie....how lovely to see your home being decorated with so much love....family coming together....remembering time gone by......
Your tree looks like a 'proper tree' full of memories.....I do the same....some of my decorations are very old.....
It is wonderful that you still have a good relationship with son in law....so important......
it is good that he has someone to care for him and the girls......and a little grandson......boys are beautiful it just takes a little longer to understand them...lol
I shall think of you at Christmas......it must be a time when you especially miss your daughter.......
Happy Christmas Beckie.....have fun and stay well......
Dearest Cheryl, thank you for your kind words and all your kindness this past year. Yes, the girls did a great job of decorating and we talked of past Christmases as they put the decorations on the tree.Some ornaments bring back treasured memories and special times. And new ones will one day be the same.
When you lose so much you have to find a way to go on. And we have found by not shutting our hearts, we've been given great gifts of love.
I wish for you- family, joy, peace, love and laughter this holiday season!
Tina, the kids are pretty easliy bribed.:) They are actually very good to help me when ever I ask. Yes, we are almost ready for the big guy with the white beard. Just have to make cookies for him and his reindeer.
Have a great Holiday Season!
What a great job everyone did on the decorating. And it's a good thing your mantel is large enough to hold all those those stockings. If I remember right you used a spaghetti dinner as your last bribe too. Are you really sure you know how to cook anything else?:)))
It looks very festive at your house! Christmas decorating got stalled here when I got laid low by this nasty cold thing. I just love your angel/Father Christmas collection, it's wonderful that your daughter arranged them so beautifully for you. The tradition of giving the kids ornaments every year is such a great one. My kids get one every year from Santa. Have a wonderful Christmas!
Flydragon, I can make a mean baked spaghetti too!:} The girls did a wonderful job decorating and we had fun with it. I so appreciate their help.
Happy Holidays!
MMD, how awful to get a cold just now-well antime, but especially now. Try to get some rest and drink lots of fluids.
Happy Holidays!
It's always nice to decorate the tree & hang the stockings as a family Beckie. Beautiful traditions you have passed along to your children & grandchildren. You have alot of stockings for Santa to fill. ;) Have a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!
Your home is truly beautiful. Thank you for sharing your pics and your memories. I absolutely love your fireplace with all those stockings!
Nice that you have adopted your son-in-law's new wife. It still must be hard....
I will be thinking of you this Christmas and sending you lots and lots of love and happy times.
Hugs
Racquel, thank you for your kind words. I do love traditions and Christmas seems to have the most for me. Yes. a lot of stockings! Santa may heave to make 2 trips down the chimney.
Happy Holidays!
Wendy, Christmas stockings is one reason we put the fire place in several years ago. I love the look of them hung there waiting to be filled.
We love Sara dearly. She is a kind soul and as I said has taken us into her heart. I'm sure that wasn't easy for her.
Christmas is hard, but we try not to show it. The little ones deserve their joy and that helps.
Hope you have a wonderful Holiday Season!
Love your Santas, especially that first red-headed one.
Indeed, dear Beckie, 'It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!'... very festive (one of my angels looks very much like yours) and love the stockings hung by the chimney with care. Enjoy your 'full house', for as you know, this is truly the feeling of Christmas, being surrounded by loved ones. May the joy of the blessed season surround you, dear one. Happy Holidays!
So lovely!
May you and yours have a
Happy Christmas.
Looking forward to getting to know you better in 2009.
Namaste,
Sherry
Hi Beckie,
Your Christmas preparations are wonderful. The tree is beautiful, and everything looks so cozy. Hope your holidays are everything you are hoping for!
Aiyana
How nice to have the kids decorate for you. This way you get some time with them too, and spaghetti is great anytime.
Your angels are very pretty and I really like your stockings all hung by the fireplace. It looks so warm and family like.
I hope you have a very precious Christmas.
God Bless
Though I have left a previous post, could not let the holidays pass without sending a BIG HUG, Beckie! I think of you often and have so enjoyed knowing you. Christmas Blessings, dear friend! May the New Year bring peace and health to all that touch us (which knowing you and me, includes the world).
Beckie,
I am now caught up here. It looks like you were set to have a fun Christmas. We just have the one grandson, but it has been fun having him around. We also put a little tree up.
I'm glad having Sara become part of your family has been a blessing for you, even though the loss of your daughter still hurts.
Merry day after Christmas!
Sue
Hi Beckie,
I feel so bad about being a date late to wish you a Merry Christmas! By the looks of your house, I know you had a wonderful day.
When I saw so many stockings hung on the mantle, I thought Egads!
Mary
Your house looks fabulously festive, Beckie! I just wanted to tell you Merry Christmas and I hope it's been a good one for you. Wishing you blessings for the coming year as well!
Hi Beckie - I must have missed this post while I was getting ready for my knee surgery. What fun to have the family pitch in and help with all of the decorating! This was the first year for me that all of my children were able to help decorate the tree and I didn't have to supervise them much. They had a grand time. The decorating was a wee bit lopsided but they thought it was magical and that's all that really matters in the end :) Hope you had a lovely Christmas!
Amy
Hi Beckie, just sayin' hi...I'll be waiting for your next post! I know you're busy having fun with Christmasy things with your family...I just spend way too much time on the computer:/ Anyway, thanks for leaving comments on some of my posts:) Take care, Jan
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