A 2nd Chance at X-Mas Decorating!

14 years ago

Remember my post about deciding 1/3 way through my Christmas decorating that I was tired of overdecorating and didn't care for the results anymore? I asked for your ideas and inspiration for next year but guess what?!

MY TREE DIED!!!!!! How lucky am I? And clearly my kids were tired of waiting on me as when I came downstairs my 6yo triumphantly showed me his stocking hanging abilities:

(DH and I got a real kick out of that so I'm leaving it as is!)

I know it sounds crazy that I could be happy that my tree died this close to Christmas but now I can simply decorate it and take the rest of the bins back down that I would normally have put out to go w/ the explosion of Christmas red and green that I've always done for the kids since they were born.

Oh I'm so happy!

You guys gave me great ideas and links for a nice simply decorated Christmas. Now where's my Christmas decorating beer?

The guy we get our trees from is giving us a new one today.

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Comments (16)

ttodd
Original Author
14 years ago
Here was the previous link if you're looking for good ideas too....

Here is a link that might be useful: Tired of Overdecorating
nhb22
14 years ago
Priceless!
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terezosa / terriks
14 years ago
OMG! I love the hangers! That is too cute.
lesmis
14 years ago
Now that is "perfect" holiday decor...I wouldn't add or change a thing!

Kat :)
graywings123
14 years ago
Perfect!
cooperbailey
14 years ago
I agree, love the stockings and wouldnt touch them either! I think it needs to become a tradition in your house! My DD came home for the weekend and decorated for me today, since I couldn't and she had a lot of fun. I gave here free rein. Christmas is sure "all everywhere" as the kids used to say when they were little- much, much more than I was going to do- but I love it.
And I have treasured memories of my little decorator helpers as well, they are the best memories. Like the time almost everything was put on the coffee table cause that is where they could reach!
I toast you with my decorating beer!
sameboat
14 years ago
ttodd I am laughing out loud - how cute is that?
jejvtr
14 years ago
TT

That is a smart 6yo - no matter what he/she was determined that Christmas would carry on, took the matter into his/her own hands - that is one smart Christmas elf!

BTW my tree fell down about 1/2 hr after I completed decorating it, I just walked away.........
CaroleOH
14 years ago
I personally would be happy with very little or no Christmas decor - I have tubs and tubs in the basement too. I've pared down but, every year I put out the outdoor lights, setup the tree and take everything out of the built in bookshelf so the Christmas village has a home. I do this for my son because he gets so much pleasure out of it and I know at 11 years old, he'll only be interested in all of this for a few more years.

Your six year old's stocking hanging is precious. Enjoy letting them decorate the house - they get so much pleasure out of Christmas at this age - it doesn't have to be overboard, but can still look festive.

For the last few years, my son has "decorated" the tree. We have a prelit artificial tree, so all I have to do is set it up and plug it in. I used to get so stressed about where every ornament was and whether the little ones were on top etc. One year he told me - I'll do it Mom, you don't have to worry! I think we was about 9 at the time. So in total frustration with the whole holiday gig I said - sure have at it. Of course only the bottom half of the tree had ornaments, and I controlled myself to the point of only rearranging a few so they were a little more balanced.

It was still very pretty, and I wasn't exhausted and stressed at the end, so now he decorates the tree and I do the Christmas Village. Somehow DH gets out of all this Christmas decor setup...hmmm!
ttodd
Original Author
14 years ago
jejvtr! OMG! I could see me just walking away too. A few yrs. ago on New Years Eve right before midnight our tree came crashing down.

I looked at DH and said 'Well that's, that! Happy New Year!'.

I told DH that the stocking hangers will have to be our 1st 'oops' Christmas Tradition. DS is getting such a kick out of 'his thing'. Each day he's been filling them w/ things from around the house and asking us if we've checked our stockings yet.

I decorated the new tree yesterday - totally different from the 1st one in an explosion of red. It's very natural in shades of green, brown and champagne. It's a really good tree. DH picked it out w/o me - it's PERFECT! AND this time he wrapped each branch in and out and last night while sitting there enjoying it he told me that even though he hates doing it that way that I'm right. He said it does make such a big difference and that he loves the tree. He even noticed how it matches my collection of old landscape lithographs. I didn't even notice that! By far the best tree ever for soooooo many reasons!
zipdee
14 years ago
Fantastic! I'd leave them just as is too. How cute :)
rjinga
14 years ago
Since we are talking about second chances!!! I'm still hopeful for a tree (which is still waiting for me at Lowe's) but I did pass by a place a few miles away that said "CUT your own" that's something I have always wanted to do. But I would have to drag DH along and that might be out of his comfort zone..ha ha. A LIVE Tree will go up this week, even if I dont decorate it.

Your's is just precious!
haley_comet
14 years ago
OMG your 6 yr old is adorable! I love a child with determination and smarts!
beekeeperswife
14 years ago
I returned a tree once that died too early. Imagine the surprised faces at that tree lot. I did get my money back because I didn't want another one of their trees.

I love the stockings on the hangers. Too cute.

We are about 1/2 hour from finishing our cork floor, and once it is done we will be getting our tree. It and the mantle are the only decorations this year due to the renovation. I think I will love the clean-up after the New Year!
parma42
14 years ago
Those are sooo cute, T.

I only have about 5% of the decorations I used to put up. It's now the third Christmas in our new house and we still don't have the fireplace mantel done. :( Just can't get in the mood.

Oh, and the addition of a kitty didn't help with the festivities. She thinks that anything new should be taste tested.
lynn_r_ct
14 years ago
Parma42, I was afraid that our new kitty -now no longer tiny but approaching huge - would interfer with our Christmas tree so after we cut it we put it in the room w/o lights or decorations to see how he reacted. Don't you know, next morning I walk in the room and there he is sitting on the top of this eight foot tree thinking he is the tree topper. Wish the camera was close by because it would have been a keeper of a pic.

He has since climbed up a few times but suddenly stopped so I think he may have gotten a few needles in some rather delicate areas. Time to decorate - starting top down first!

A 2nd Chance at X-Mas Decorating!

Comments (16)

ttodd
Original Author

nhb22

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A 2nd Chance at X-Mas Decorating!

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ttoddOriginal Author

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