Putting up the Christmas Tree

[5ft Diva]

I finally got my tree up last night! Well, let me clarify, me and my two sons did. It was fun and I got it up faster this year than I have in the past years. Just out of curiosity, am I the only one that takes forever (by myself) to put the tree up, put the lights on it, and decorate it? I was just wondering if any of you are able to get your trees up fast, what is your system? Let me know if this question is confusing.

[Dia Minha]

Diva, my kids somehow have the idea that our tradition is to put up the tree for FHE, the Monday after Thanksgiving. We do a little lesson on the symbols of Christmas and then all work together to get it up. The kids each get assigned a different color of branch for our fake tree. DH does the lights. And we all put on the ornaments. It goes really quickly.

Dia

[smed]

This is one of my most favorite things to do! It has so much meaning for me. First it reminds me of going to see the "Forgotten Carols" by Michael McLean. If you have never seen it I desperatly encourage you to go see it. I have seen it about 5 or more times and I'll never get sick of it. I esspecially love the song "When I take the tree down" I cry as I sing this song as I put up my tree and esspecially when I take it down each year. It really has made me think of what christmas truelly is. Everytime I think of the experiences I have had going to see this wonderful play\musical\ I really don't know what to call it except it is really inspirational and uplifting. I get so filled with joy and misty eyed.

Second- It makes me so thankful for the wonderful children I have. For those of you that don't know My oldest and secound to the oldest children's birthday's are very close to christmas. It always reminds me of the times they came into this world and the sacrifice I gave in getting them into this world. I had many problems with child #1 coming into this world! I almost didn't make it myself. Once I got home from the hospital, and would get up alot at night with just me and my babies I loved to turn on the christmas lights and sing christmas songs to them as I would get them back to sleep.

Having said all that and opening myself up to you all like this is WOW! I'm impressed with myself. But putting up the christmas tree, lights, decorations and all I hold very dear to my heart.

Now- in answering your question I usually put up the tree and lights and let my children put the decorations on themselfs. Althought after this is down and they have gone back to bed then I re-arrange them so they are not all in one spot on the tree! He! He!

I also love my tree it is all homemade. Homemade decorations that my mom used when she was first married. Plus before craigs mom past away she was working on decorations for her tree that she never finished. One day his mom (step) found them and gave them to me to finish. I did and they are now hanging on my tree for the second year!

I love Christmas!

[5ft Diva]

What wonderful memories you have w/ your babies, smed. Thank you for sharing, your experiences were enjoyable and I laughed when you were amazed at yourself for opening up to us. You're so funny!

[mxmama]

Hummm

Well i used to go ALL OUT for Christmas. I just got so much JOY out of all of it.

I spent weeks by myself doing outside lights, inside garlands, OH I LOVE PINE CONES!! I used to put up several trees.
We have a John Deere room in our home, and that room had a tree with deer and little tractors all over it.

The tree in the kitchen would be stuffed with fake fruits (the sparkling kind of coarse)
I am obsessed with pine cones (Did I say that already?) I LOVE to decorate them!



One year I was on a bird kick....I had all these fake birds that I covered in sequins and glitter all over a tree none of the family liked that tree, but I did

My theory for the main tree is keeping with nature, things that represent Gods creations that you find out side are allowed on that tree. Snowflakes, icicles, berries, PINE CONES, flowers, animals, and much more... I just stress to my kids thats its all about Him and Jesus. No animals this year though.
Focusing on nature keeps it closer for me.
Dont get me wrong....we still hang all the decorations the kids make, just not on that tree


Anyway, last year I was so depressed I didn't care if we had a tree or not. I felt really guilty that the kids were wanting one so I drug one down and tossed it in a corner and gave them the stuff and let them do whatever they wanted with it.

It stayed up until August!

Anyway, I am feeling a little better this year. Someone must have put a spell on my husband, he has actually been taking part!

In 10 years he never touched a light or anything, if it was going to be done, it was up to me.



We went and got a real tree because thats what he wanted to do. Its huge!

I was really scared to bring it home, but I am so happy that he is participating, it really got my Christmas juices flowing!

I usually tow and old tractor to the front of the house and decorate it with lights... this year, he did it! And he out did me... he did an old tractor AND an old mower!

I did the front porch.

I should upload some pictures. I am really feeling some spirit this year!

Not as much as I used to. But at least its there!

Did I mention I LOVE PINE CONES???

[Dia Minha]

OH man Mx. I want to see those pictures.

Dia

[5ft Diva]

Originally Posted by mxmama

Did I mention I LOVE PINE CONES???

This is funny stuff. I would love to see pictures.

[mxmama]

Ok


am I the only fool here who LOVES pine cones??

They all have so much potential its insane!


Am I the only one who sees that?


I will snap a few pics tomorrow.

We just have one tree this year, but we all took park in it.

I will get some of the husbands work outside too.

I hope you guys are ready to share some pics too!

I Love looking at Christmas set up at others peoples homes!
From the most humble to glamorous, they all excite me the same!

Maybe I can dig up some old pics too.
This can be fun

[5ft Diva]

I'm sure I could learn how to appreciate pine cones, but I do not love them.

[runamyrun]

It would be fun to see pictures! I like pinecones, but I'm not sure what to do with them. My parents gave me some huge pinecones from Lake Tahoe, and I planned on using them to decorate our house (we like an outdoorsy look--we have a bunch of fake pine trees in our front room year round). I couldn't decide where I should put them because I was afraid that my babies would eat them. So, they are outside by our aspen in the front yard! Mxmama, I want to see how you decorate with them!

[mxmama]

Originally Posted by runamyrun

Mxmama, I want to see how you decorate with them!

whoo hooo!


I get some pics soon.

you need..... a Box, glitter, spray paint (I like metallics silver and gold)

you can use matching paint and glitter too. I have some that are painted green, with green glitter or painted red with red glitter.

The potential is endless and really its so fun!

Bring the big ones out side and put a few in a box.


You can saturate those babies or lightly mist them while you shake the box around. When your happy with how much paint coverage you have, bring on the glitter, and do the same thing with the box.

I like mixing different size glitters and loose sequins in a zip lock. Big glitter and small glitter work well together too. (silver and gold together is beautiful!)

Thats how I started out.

I'm a little more particular how I spray my cones now days. Sometimes I like to stand them up and spray down and around on them not under, then I do the same with the glitter and let it fall into place

depending on the time you have, you can also hot glue clothes pins (not very fun!) to the bottom so you can clip them where you want. Like all over your home, not just the tree!

I spay painted a bunch of clothes pins green before I glued them, they work PERFECT!


Thats not necessary though, if they are big they will rest in any tree or garland nicely with no clip. They are the perfect ornament!

Everyone "ooohs" and "ahhhhs" over my cones when they come over always makes me giggle!

[mxmama]

Originally Posted by 5ft Diva

I'm sure I could learn how to appreciate pine cones, but I do not love them.

Yes "LOVE" is a bit strong... I can hear my son now, "Mom, why don't you marry it then"

[bookworm]

Originally Posted by mxmama

They are the perfect ornament!

That's what I was thinking- my son got a huge pine cone when we were in the redwood forest last year, and he made it into this cute turkey for his aunt for Thanksgiving. I had my scouts make little ones, but he had this huge pinecone, so it was fun.

This is an excellent idea for ornaments... I'll have to think this over for next year.

[mxmama]

Well i have tons of pics and am so ready to share!!!

Just waiting for the site to let me upload, Im running into a glitch or something

I'm gonna keep trying, my piney cones aren't going anywhere any time soon.