This past weekend we went into full-blown Christmas mode. We spent the majority of both days acquiring/decorating a Christmas tree, and putting lights on the exterior of the house.
We went to our typical stomping grounds - Bath Nursery - to select the tree. They have reindeer, and free popcorn and apple cider. We got there Saturday at 9am, before any crowds had gathered. It was the most stress-free tree-buying experience ever. Fancy that!
2015
2014
Mid-day Saturday Matt and I headed outside to begin the lighting of the house. Kale joined us. Sage was inside with his iPad. I bounced back and forth to ensure the 3-year old was ok. But after catching Sage trying to haul a chair up the stairs to find the hidden stash of old Halloween candy (in the linen closet), I had to abandon Matt to head indoors where I could watch both kids. Bringing Sage outside was never an option. Ladders to a toddler boy are like bugs to a bug zapper. Better to keep him locked up inside. Matt assured me he could proceed with the lights alone.
Hours went by. The sun set. Yet Matt pushed on to give our house the Christmas touch it so badly needed. (Much like the famed Clark Griswold.) Eventually, the job was done. And thank goodness. I had gotten tired of Sage asking us why we were the only house on the cul-de-sac not to have lights.
Why did it take so long you ask? We tried a new hook-on-gutter method. Keeps the lights perfectly aligned.
P.S. The bush twinkles. It would knock your socks off if you could see it.
We played Christmas music, danced, drank, and dined on appetizers all night. It was a rather great night. We cleared the living room furniture and brought in the tree. We did a little preliminary pruning, but saved all the decorating for the next morning.
As a side thought...I wonder how many of our neighbors have driven down the street to see the four of us spinning, dancing, and jumping around the living room. Secretly, I hope they've all seen it. And I hope it made them smile. We rarely close the curtains!
A second side thought... you can really jazz up freezer appetizers with a little bit of homemade dipping sauce. I paired the vegan Trader Joes taquitos with a chipotle sour cream. And I paired the spanokopita with a heavy-on-the-dill tzaziki. Delish!
Sunday - tree trimming day!
Sage was biting at the bit since the sun rose. It took everything in our power just to get him to let us shower.
Matt piled the boxes of ornaments next to the tree. The kids couldn't keep their mitts off the them.
"One box at a time please," we reminded them. Yea right!
There was much for little hands to touch.
Most of it breakable, we quickly realized.
Monday the boys headed out of the house. To school. To work. And I got my one day alone. God bless it! I decided to make a cocoa banana bundt cake. Followed by a roasted balsamic winter vegetables.
I wish my oven could look like this everyday. Covered in wholesome scrumptious dishes for my family. But alas... I must spend far too many hours of my day out of the home. And as the workweek progresses the kitchen crumbles beneath the weight of dirty dishes, cat medication, sticky lunch boxes, lost-then-found sippy cups with curdling milk, and the ever-growing pile of unsorted mail.
But for this one afternoon.... I felt like a little Martha.
Stewart that is.
There's my babies! Eating warm banana cake after a long day at school.
