It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Christmas is coming. 25 days away now. I brought up the Christmas decorations over the weekend since I had the time. Pulled the tree out of the box first. Three sections, pre-lighted, easy to put up. You have to fluff the branches, though. I don't always do so well with that part. But I digress. After the tree is together, add the garland. Gold colored, wind it around the tree. I always have fun remembering how Eric used to call it the "garlic." Then the angel topper. Where is it? Looked through all the boxes I'd brought up. Nope. Went back downstairs and it was in a box I hadn't brought up. Put it on the tree and put the tree skirt on as well. That was as far as I got on Saturday night.

Sunday evening, I decided to get started on the ornaments. For a few more years at least, I can still use all the beautiful antique glass ornaments handed down to us through mostly the Eidemiller part of the family, but also some Cooper, Gentner, and even Pomrenke ornaments mixed in. Add a few newer glass ornaments, and it does make for a beautiful tree once it's done. Once there are small children in the house again (ie GRANDCHILDREN) it won't be so practical.

Started at the top with the tiny ornaments. Exquisite. Then to the main first layer of the ornament box. First to unpack: our First Christmas Together ornament, from 1983. Second, Baby's First Christmas from 1985 (Scott's.) and next comes A Baby Boy's First Christmas from 1987 (Eric's.) The last two are pretty much the only non-glass ornaments, other than some vintage shiny plastic ornaments. Then the unpacking continues with many beautiful memorable ornaments. Some I remember from childhood, others more recent acquisitions. Got tired of hanging them about a third of the way through the box so quit for the night. On FB, I posted the question "How many ornaments does it take for your tree to be considered decorated?" and got lots of answers. They ranged from "one" from several guys, to "if you can see any part of the tree it's not decorated enough (from my sister.) Interesting!

This morning, I figured I'd better get the job done. It was fun - played some Christmas music on the stereo (yep, one of those antique CD's called "records") and did a pretty good job of covering the tree. Sat back and noticed a few places where I could have fluffed better. But overall pretty good. Placed the basket of children's Christmas books next to the tree, added the gingerbread boy and girl next to them, and there it was.

Next the nativity. This is the second year I've put up the Cooper family's nativity rather than the big one that my grandparents made. When we added some furniture to the living room, there just wasn't a good place for the big one any more. Hopefully that will change some day. But for now, unpacked the smaller nativity and set it up. This is a vintage set, figures made in Germany, and "goes" with the ornaments on the tree quite nicely. I set up the wise men and their entourage on top of the little fireplace instead of with the rest of the set - after all, the wise men didn't actually visit the stable, it wasn't until Jesus was about two years old that they found him in Egypt.

After the nativity comes the Santa scene. This comes mostly from Steve's Uncle Forrest, a vintage handmade fireplace with the proper accessories. Also a vintage Santa, and a couple of reindeer too. Add a small tree with miniature ornaments and presents under the tree, and we're all set. Scott has the second small tree in Germany now, I hope he puts it up in his room.

Miscellaneous decorations, mostly in the living room and dining room: the bell from my Grandparents house (pull the cord and it plays Jingle Bells); a stuffed Santa to sit atop the TV; a card holder, Santa jiggling down into the chimney toy, some gold miniature trees on the coffee table, a photo collage of the boys as babies and toddlers at Christmas, and the N-O-E-L letters.
The letters take on a life of their own, as they are often rearranged by Santa's troublemaking elves into different configurations such as L-E-O-N. Hmmm....

Ok, looks good. Now to haul the boxes back downstairs and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Now comes the shopping and baking and cards and everything else. I need to find time to slow down and remember the true meaning of the season.