Decorating for Christmas

The girls have been bugging to get the tree since Bo and Holly arrived. We wanted to make sure we had enough time to decorate, so we decided to get it on a Friday. Well of course it was Friday and one of the only days it has rained all month. We debated about going to get it in the rain or waiting a day, but the girls were set on going on Friday when Geoff got home from work, so we bundled up and got our tree in the mud and rain. It might not have been so bad, because it helped us decide on one a little quicker this year :o) Of course we had to let it dry out for the night in the garage before we started decorating. The girls were fine with that because decorating for Christmas is a huge deal. I remember my neighbor calling one day and making fun of me because of all of the Christmas boxes that were out in front of our house. My love of all things Christmas has rubbed off from Grandma Rosie!

My Grandma Rosie's very favorite holiday was Christmas. She would spend hours and days...yes days....decorating her house for Christmas. She loved everything about Christmas. The music, the decorations, baking goodies with Gramps, spending time with the family, and buying Hallmark ornaments for all of the grandkids. It always brings back tons of memories as we unwrap ornaments that are still in their original boxes. She always bought each of the grandkids an ornament on the "half off sale" the day after Christmas. So I have some that are over 35 years old! That is kinda crazy to see in print.... When she was sick with cancer, we all wondered if Gramps would keep up the tradition and he sure does! All of us love it (big grandkids and little). We all see the "ornament bags" and wonder which little treasure is inside. Is it an Eskimo? Frosty and Friends? Snow Buddies? Pooh?....you never know, but they are always cute and we love them very much!

Decorating can be a pain in the neck, but when it is all done it is fun to enjoy it and see all of your decorations year after year. As we were decorating  this year, Allie said "I miss Grandma Rosie, do you Mom?" I said "I sure do....every . single . day,  but I know she is watching over us and has the best Christmas tree in heaven" and I don't doubt it for one second. She is with us in our hearts during this exciting time of year. I am so happy that Allison knew her and still remembers her. Paige will hear stories and gets to enjoy all of the speical ornaments each year on our tree.  Here is our tree all decorate...

As we decorated inside, Daddy-O was busy outside. We had 2 happy little girlies with all of the decorations. They called Grandma and Paka to come over and see all of the pretties!