Monday, December 6, 2010

The Christmas Tree: An Iphone Photo Retrospective


Um, yeah, that's my five year old with a saw.

We went to the tree farm this weekend to pick out a tree for Christmas. Well, David and Edie went in search of the tree....



Lucy decided to spend all her time in the un-supervised, un-manned, completely free jumpy castle, where no one was making the children take turns. And she missed hunting for the tree.

And drinking hot chocolate.


And finally, after we pried her out of the jumpy castle with all kinds of seductions and threats, David and Edie showed her "the tree". The tree they picked out. While Lucy was otherwise busy.


And Lucy loved the tree. Until she realized it was Edie's favorite tree. And that Edie had chosen it. And then, all of a sudden she hated it. Hated the very sight of it.


There was an uncomfortable moment where it looked like we might not leave this farm with a tree at all.


Lucy hated Edie and David's tree.


An intense negotiation ensued.

Then, there was much wandering and hand-ringing and consternation as we made loops around the farm, inspecting each tree and trying to find one - freakin' one tree - that was not hideous and weirdly-formed, and fit the criteria for both children, who just wanted to hate each other's choices on principle. It was cold on the farm. That's all I'm sayin', cold.

Is that the one? Maybe? Yes? Yes?....No. Crap.


And then, by some miracle, some act of God, both children decided they liked a single tree. Aaaaahhhh! (That's the angels singing.) No matter the tree looked like it was a big green pear, with a huge bushy bottom and a scrawny, scraggily top. I like big green Christmas pears. I like scraggily.

Bring it! Before someone decides they hate it. Before my fingers turn black with frostbite like those poor slobs who climb Everest.

David started sawing. Feverishly.


And then, we realized this tree cutting was not child's play and David got serious.


Clothes were discarded.


The children gave David lots of important advice on how to use the saw, how to not injure the tree, how to make sure he got every single branch. Important stuff.


And the people were happy.


And the Fosters became proud owners of a Christmas tree.

And then, weirdly, the tree had legs.


And walked away.


And it got closer and closer to leaving the farm with us. And Christmas felt like it was getting closer and closer, too. Someone sang Jingle Bells. Snowflakes filled the air...okay, I'm lying. But it was all good. No one was fighting. Or had to take off seven layers of clothes to pee.


Then, at home, we decorated. Which was really just an excuse to climb up and down the ladder and give Mommy a freakin' heart attack.

The kids like to climb the ladder and pretend they are losing their grip and falling off, so they can watch me go all pale and ill and jittery. They did that about 20 times. Merry Freakin' Christmas to me.


And we added the names of our friends and family to tea-stained cards and hung them up on our new, pear-shaped, scraggily tree, which was looking less-scraggily and less-pear-shaped as the minutes wore on. (I was drinking Whiskey Sours so that might have had something to do with it.)


And we wrote the names of new friends, and added them to the limbs, so we could think of them, too. So they could be with us through Christmas. And we ate guacamole and chips, which I think is like a tree-trimming tradition somewhere in the world. Like maybe Mexico.


And then, we just took it all in and felt pretty damned good about ourselves.

But it's not over. We have only just started. This week is cookie week. Christmas is just getting revved up, baby. Bring it.

xo YM


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12 comments:

Cheryl Arkison said...

You are such a wuss. Next year come to Calgary and we'll take you trudging through the mountains for a tree. I promise, though, there will be arguments.
Love that name tradition, I am totally stealing it.

SaintTigerlily said...

Super adorable. Weirdly, my security word is:

Bringent

(Perhaps what "Bring it" sounds like after you've had a few whiskey sours?)

Hoping to see you all someday!

Nuts about food said...

We did the tree (no real tree again until the little one stops putting everything into his mouth) AND cookies on Saturday. I am exhausted and Christmas hasn't even started...did I mention it was also my daughter's birthday a few days before Christmas??

MrsWheelbarrow said...

I am charmed by all of this post, but especially by the name-ornaments hung on your tree. I just put a Kim/David/Edie/Lucy ornament on my tree. Happy Happy December Holidaze. xoCathy

Paula said...

Loved this post. Strange for me (a Canadian) however that you can go cut a Christmas tree without first having to shake tons of snow off of it first! Love your *friends name tag* decorations. Such a sweet idea. Enjoy the baking...I'm looking forward to the charming post about it all.

Jennie said...

Lady, I love you. What a great idea about the cards too. I may have to borrow that one.

rita said...

Fun time for all! The first picture of Lucy with the saw - Just have to tell you that it's the spitting image of you at age 5.

Mardi Michels said...

You need to have your won TV show, you know that? :-)

Christine said...

The name-ornaments are such a great idea!

And while Cheryl may think you're a wuss, I salute you! My tree used to come pre-fab decorated with lights already in it...but lately comes from a parking lot I pass on my way home back from work. :)

Paula - bell'alimento said...

I always love reading your posts you make me feel like I'm right there with you {this time decorating the tree} <3 <3 <3 the tree name tag decorations..Brilliantly sweet!

Lauren said...

Love the idea of hanging names on the tree!

Warner (aka ntsc) said...

No tree yet, wife hasn't mentioned it, but she received the 2010 ornament. I have given her a tree ornament every year we have been married, sometimes two.

We can now decorate a small tree, 5-6', in nothing but Waterford.