Monday 8 December 2008

Oh What Fun...

So we got all the decorations out on Saturday morning. I couldn't remember having quite that much stuff, but I do avail myself of the January sales so it's not really surprising.

The little one was beside himself with excitement and began unwrapping things faster than I could shout "Careful that's really fragile". The first bauble unwrapped was placed on the table, as instructed, with a wee bit more force than necessary - and it shattered. It's not so much the breakage, although this bauble was rather attactive, it's the bloody mess the shards make, and the inevitable injury that follows. Troop to the kitchen for a plaster/band-aid and the handheld vacuum, which of course sucks the shards up, then slowly dribbles them out again on your walk to put it back. I should just reach for the brush and shovel every time.

We have an artificial tree which looks very real. I can't be bothered with the real ones playing havoc with my allergies and dropping needles everywhere. Besides, the Queenager is in the school's Environmental Club, so we have to do our bit with re-usable items. I believe the word now is "sustainable".

It took about 45 minutes to straighten out all the squashed up branches, and arrange things so that you couldn't see straight through it. The Ball & Chain found a huge bag of lights, and we spent about ten minutes debating which ones we'd used last year. I swear we must have bought new lights every year for a decade as we have a bigger variety than our local hardware store/shop. We even had a brand new box, but decided against those lights as they flashed on and off, faded in and out and generally promised an instant migraine. I should put them outside and give the neighbours something to talk about!

As usual, interest started to wane amongst the various family members as the tree became fuller and fuller. By the end, I was the only one diving to the bottom of the bauble box, which of course, meant I was the only one around to pick up the paper and put the boxes away. At this point I think I turned into a harpie, a bit like her over at Family Affairs. Not only did I demand that everyone help, I then turned my attention to the homework-in-the-wrong-place, instruments-where-they-shouldn't-be, and keys-left-lying-around. It was at this point that the Ball & Chain wisely took them off to Starbucks for a hot chocolate and a bulletproof jacket.

Anyway,here's a (fairly non-breakable) bauble artfully photographed by the Queenager:

18 comments:

  1. SO know the feeling - I'm not yet brave enough to get the decorations out - if I can't cope with the advent calender, all hell will break out when I start sorting the tree. Taking your advice though and going for "sustainable".....thanks for the mention Lx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looks very professional at yours and I bet you're serenely contemplating the deccies now. As we're away for Christmas I'm still thinking I might get away with just cards and advent calendars, fingers crossed no-one notices.

    ReplyDelete
  3. With two toddlers who think that baubles are 'bouncy balls' and love the hurl them with great force around the room, I am putting the tree off for as long as possible this year!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very arty photo. Is that what a Starbucks hot chocolate can do for you?

    ReplyDelete
  5. So glad to hear that I'm not the only one who starts by complaining about one thing that hasn't been done and then starts harping on about all the others too. Of course all that does in my house is confuse the poor kids as to which task I really want them to accomplish RIGHT NOW, but once I get started I can't stop!

    ReplyDelete
  6. At least you can tick another Christmas task off the list- tree is up, lights and baubles on.

    By the way-major uproar here from the other half and teenager. Starbucks UK has taken off egg nogg latte this Xmas. Is it the same over your way?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Now the problem about being married to a man who doesn't like Christmas (yes, I know, pretty grea the rest of the year though) is that decorating the tree will bring him out in one of his grumps. You will therefore understand why I hold off for as long as possible.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I was going to do my tree tonight but you've just reminded me what it's like!!! The hubby threatend to buy a fibre optic one that you just plug in, ba humbug, I expressed, now I'm thinking he might be right!!! xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. mum, I can't believe that anybody as lovely as you could ever be a harpie?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Our decorating is all done and dusted; but then it's a lot easier without any children helping out.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wonderful photo of the bauble!
    I can't be arsed to put the tree up this year as we will be travelling for a week either before or after Christmas.... so only a few Christmas cards from England decorating the fridge this year! x

    ReplyDelete
  12. We avoid the whole thing by not having a tree now that it's just me and Tom!!! Bah! Humbug!

    ReplyDelete
  13. "Not only did I demand that everyone help, I then turned my attention to the homework-in-the-wrong-place, instruments-where-they-shouldn't-be, and keys-left-lying-around."...LOL someone is just as anal as I am!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh, I so know what you mean about shattered baubles. Lovely pic, btw.

    I am like your fam--give up early in the process but our youngest is the one that goes all the way through with it. Trouble is, as he's younger, he doesn't "decorate" the way i would--larger baubles on bottom, smaller ones on top, so it gets rather cluttered looking. I have to refrain myself from stepping in and taking charge. My designer self want to treat it like a graphic design project!

    I hope you fill us all in on how you celebrate Christmas as the weeks go by. Would love to see it.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Yes, we've got the trees up and the lights plus tinsel. All the cards written out and sent amazingly! Now for the presents...

    ReplyDelete
  16. The Queenager! I've got one of those, too.

    My children stay until the bitter end . . . and yet they still manage to evaporate when it is time to put the boxes back in the attic.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Haven't got ours yet. Tend to leave it until the last minute as Scandinavian tradition dictates although we soon learned when we got to the US that if we wait until xmas eve there's nothing left!
    On the green issue, may I politely guide the Queenager in the direction of this link http://www.doityourself.com/stry/realorartificial
    It would seem that a plastic tree is not as environmentally responsible as we have all been led to believe.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I also have an artificial tree that does not look real as it is white & silver! Well I like it! Can'y be doing with all those needles!
    Every year several baubles get broken. Oh well........

    ReplyDelete

The more the merrier....

Blog Archive