I was hoping to find this book on Amazon.com, but had no luck. Honestly, I don’t think such a book really exists, but if not, I could probably write it.
Key points include:
- Check all lights before stringing the entire tree.
- Check the outlet to make sure it works before unstringing the entire tree, then finding out lights actually worked in the first place.
- Do not let your toddler play with replacement bulbs unless you want to engage in a rousing game of “Where did Bobo hide the bulbs” after she goes down for her nap.
As you can surmise, we are in the process of putting up the Christmas tree. When I say “we,” I actually mean “I”. My husband usually stays out of the holiday decorating process altogether, I suspect because I admit I am somewhat vigilant about making the house look perfect for every holiday.
I think my fascination with holiday decorations began at a young age. Finding and decorating the tree was a family event, which included trucking through cold muddy fields at the tree farm, engaging in friendly debates over which kind to get (Blue spruce or noble? Oh, the dilemma!), and culminating in lighting and decorating the tree while drinking hot cocoa to warm up. I loved watching my dad haul out the Christmas decorations from the attic, and helping to free the lights, ornaments and other decorations from their mothball and tissue paper coffins. Decorating the house seemed to represent memories from holidays past, and created a giddy sense of anticipation for the coming ones.
Today, I made a big to-do about getting out the Christmas decorations while we put away the Halloween and fall decorations (Yes, that is correct. It is December, and the Halloween decorations just came down. But, hey, only one trip to the attic. Efficiency or laziness? You decide.)
I think Bobo had fun helping me set out all of the decorations, and would squeal in delight when we unwrapped another snowman or Santa. She got distracted towards the end of the snowman parade and started playing with the tree lights (thus the mystery of the hidden replacement bulbs), but her interested was piqued again when we brought out the advent calendar that I explained would have a piece of candy for each day.
Now that I have kids, I have a renewed sense of giddiness for the holidays. Seeing the anticipation and excitement through my daughter’s eyes makes me feel a bit like a kid myself, and reminds me of all the fun we had during the holidays while I was growing up.
Okay, so it is a little annoying answering the “Is Santa coming tonight??” question for 24 straight days.
Secretly, though, I’m counting down the days myself.
