I'm not a control freak. Really, I'm not. Except that I have certain ideas about how I want things done. Like decorating the Christmas tree. OK, so maybe I am just the teeniest bit of a control freak. But I know lots of you out there in blogland are nodding your heads in knowing agreement with me! I have this vision of how I want the Christmas tree to look like. I blame the catalogues and morning TV:
I could go nuts and follow the instructions from the best in the business:
And there are lots more on YouTube where that one came from!!!
I do have to admit that I have three "themes" of Christmas tree decorations in my Big Box of Decorations - red/green, blue/silver and new this year - purple/silver (I bought them before I read Miss Minimalist and got all 'less stuffy'). I dream of big beautiful trees with colour coordinating decorations all symmetrically placed and aesthetically pleasing.
And there are lots more on YouTube where that one came from!!!
I do have to admit that I have three "themes" of Christmas tree decorations in my Big Box of Decorations - red/green, blue/silver and new this year - purple/silver (I bought them before I read Miss Minimalist and got all 'less stuffy'). I dream of big beautiful trees with colour coordinating decorations all symmetrically placed and aesthetically pleasing.
And then my kids want to help.
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| The Periodic Table is a nice backdrop, don't you think? |
This is obviously the crucial decision making point in which I have to let go. I know Christmas is (in part) about the joy of children. So I have to let go of my dreams and idealistic visions and....let them help me decorate the tree. Without bossing them about. It's not as easy as it sounds! I have to get to "yes" and let them fully participate and have fun and put whatever decorations they want wherever they want (breathe in, let; breathe out, go).
I am a little sneaky I admit. I try to get out the ones I want and not put out all the other ones that won't fit in with this year's "theme". But they go to my Big Box and start pulling out all these uncoordinated decorations and putting them up all over the place and so the tree doesn't look symmetrical and is in danger of collapsing under the weight of tinsel. So I smile, give up and let them go for it.
On the plus side, they are getting "better" at this as they get older. They have a better "eye" and stand back occasionally and check to see how the tree is looking. I have hope! And in the meanwhile, we all have a tree that we love. And lots of decorations that we have collected over the years that we love (many of them sent with love from Ohio!).
The tree may not be fit to go in a catalogue, but it's our tree in our house and we love it. Even with the big blue and gold over-sized bauble in the middle. Even with that :-)
No Ordinary Moments is hosting a "share your ornaments" linky:
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| Every tree needs a Christmas wombat! |
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| Little Drummer Boy |
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| King Herod |
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| Video Boy's "family" of tree decorations |
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| Video Boy was a baby once! I wasn't coping well when Wombat Girl had her first Christmas... so, no baby photo of her. |
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| This angel has been in my family since I was a baby. She makes an appearance every year |
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| I love this maple leaf from Jane in Ohio! |
The tree may not be fit to go in a catalogue, but it's our tree in our house and we love it. Even with the big blue and gold over-sized bauble in the middle. Even with that :-)
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| Nearly done... |
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| ...but we always need hubby to do the final touch! |
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So I have added this post over there! Go check out all the other good ornaments!
Your tree is lovely. Ours always looks like a tornado stopped by and dropped a truckload of ornaments on it. We like it that way at my house, but I also occasionally long for a "theme" tree.
ReplyDeleteIt looks beautiful! This is my favorite kind of tree. I have to admit I find the themed "perfect" trees a bit soulless.
ReplyDeleteI love your tree, Ingi! Love love love the big bauble in the middle!! (I had no idea they could get that big! What's it been eating?)
ReplyDeleteYour tree sings of you and your family. I especially love the precious ornaments—the ones with your stories inside them. Those are magic. Thank you for sharing them with us, Ingi.
And congratulations on letting go! :)
The big bauble was eating lollies! It was very heavy. Thankfully the kids lightened the load, ate them all and now it can go wherever it wants on the tree!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could handle the stress of a perfect tree! :) Especially with kids around. I think the eclectic look is MUCH more fun {and family friendly}. We were laughing because I think our tree was fully decorated in under 10 minutes this year with four kids vying for the next ornament. I couldn't unwrap them quickly enough!
ReplyDeleteOh, Ingi, I love your tree; especially the color scheme NOT being red/green. We put up two trees; one for us to decorate with the breakable ornaments and one the kids all decorate. We started doing that when we had child number #4! stopping by from the ornament show and tell.
ReplyDeleteYou have the patience of a saint and the breathing rhythms of a runner. I know I'd fail the test.
ReplyDeleteBut LOVING the Christmas Wombat. Want one. Now. And the angel. Mine.
I'm catching up. Can u tell?
Why welcome back! We now have TWO Christmas wombats! And I'll let you share the angel!
DeleteHow can I forget the angel :)
DeleteAnd thanks to you, I *now* have a collection of Christmas Owls - some of which have been put on my 'abstract art' Christmas tree (which looks like a reindeer horn) :)
ReplyDeletecheers,
Night Owl
Ps. You might be interested in these recent entries: http://nightowl1967.blogspot.com.au/?zx=cd74c6af33dffaa3