Headline: Family decorated, all survived.

So we started our "Party" on Friday pretty early. And it was a good thing, too. We bought this tree last year after Christmas (75% off). Since we had never set it up before it took Curtis awhile to figure it out. "I thought getting a pre-lit tree would make things go faster," Hallie commented on more than one occasion.
After much weeping and wailing, it was ready for the hand-made decor that has graced our tree for many a year. It took so long though, that the girls got bored and went in the family room to watch "The Grinch". Curtis and I were left putting ornaments on by ourselves. It was actually peaceful and relaxing at that point.

Next came the Blue Dragon. The first year we were married I was telling my grandmother that we didn't have a tree. She said "I have a beautiful tree that you can have. It is blue and green. Oh, it's wonderful with white chritmas balls on it. I even have a light that has a color wheel that spins and changes the tree's color. It's in the attic. Come and get it."
So I braved her dusty attic and pulled out a box that literally disintegrated in my hands. I took a peek at the branches and (I hate to admit) was a little dismayed at what I saw. This was NOT what I had envisioned. But she was so excited, so I took it with a hug and "Thanks, grandma". When we unpacked it at home I looked at the sheets of newspaper that the individual branches were wrapped up in. The date said "1967". This tree had not seen daylight for a quarter of a century!!! After we set it up we couldn't stop laughing. I wish my scanner was working because I have some great pics of us and it that first year. I decided that it needed help so I bought garland, lights and, of course, white balls. Whenever we would put the lights on it they would stop working. It was sooo wierd. I even took the lights back to store and returned them for other, non-defective lights. Those quit working, too! Then I noticed on the warning label. "Do not place lights on metallic trees. Electric shock and fire may occur." Our tree was aluminum. I was bummed because I couldn't even dress it up with lights. It was what it was. We were in a young college ward and people would stop by our apartment just to see the tree. It was quite the novelty. We were also in the habit of naming things. So we named it the Blue Dragon, I don't remember why. Over the years we have come to love and appreciate our tree. I even have another one (also from grandma's attic) that is silver. It has never been opened. It's still in the original factory packaging. We don't put up the Blue Dragon every year, so it's quite special when we do. As we were setting it up, the girls found out that the sacred, Blue Dragon was going up and came to help. It took this tree to get them away from the t.v. When they saw the color wheel they said "What's that thing?"

"A fire-hazard," I replied. "Do not, I repeat, DO NOT plug this thing in when we are not around!"

It was made in the 50's and I don't trust it. We plugged it in that first night and "ooohed and ahhhhed" as we watched the tree change from yellow to red. Blue to green. It was a very poignant moment. I wish that I had thought to say something about my grandma. That would have been special, probably only to me, but still special. Oh, well.

As I was growing up my grandma (same as above) had a little ceramic church that she would put under her tree. I loved going over to her house every year and seeing that little church. My dolls would walk to "church" and play in the "snow" and other fun winter things that we couldn't do in the desert. My love of christmas houses began there. I started to collect a few of my own about 10 years ago. When she passed away I was lucky enough to get the church house. It has a place of honor in the middle at the fourth, and highest level. You can barely see it's steeple in the photo above. It is also the farthest away to keep it safe from little hands and "Le Tigre". Curtis helped me put the lights in the houses last night. It does look like a ghetto when compared to the Tuggle's, but It's the perfect size for us. I think I'll talk to the girls about getting little trees this year instead of houses. The way it's set up know, we wouldn't be able to fit any more.

Anyways, that's the story of how we survived decorating this year.

The big, flat babysitter (the t.v.) saved the day again.

Maybe that will become a tradition.