The Big Tree

I have told you about putting up my mom's tree and how it went seamingly smooth. I also mentioned in a post titled "Merry Winter" that decorating Christmas Trees was one of my favorite things to do in the winter season. Well, I can say that this fact did not really ring true for me this year. I don't know why but I do know that putting up my tree was one of the most frustrating things I did this month. Of course, there is a story. I wish I had pictures to walk you through this process but I was so frustrated that I didn't even take any pictures.

On a Sunday morning, just over a week before Christmas (I think). I got off of a graveyard and then went to finish my mom's tree. Once it was finished, I went home and pulled all of the Christmas boxes out of my shed and into the house. I wanted to nap before I put up my tree. My plan was to take a nap and then get up in time for the football game. While I watched the game I was going to set up the tree. Well, I couldn't sleep. I sat in the livingroom and watched tv until the game came on. Then during the game I was so tired that I fell asleep. Ugh! Anyway, I then woke to find Dallas loosing. (I know big suprise - right). Well, I had to really get into the game and cheer them on. This took up a lot of energy. Which left no energy to put up the tree.

About 8pm that night I decided I better put up the tree because I would be working over the next few days and knew it had to get done tonight! So, I unboxed the tree. Usually I plug it in as I go but this year we had rearranged the living room and the tree was going to have to be plugged into 2 extention cords wrapped around the livingroom to the other side where the plug was. As I thought out how I would plug in the tree I realized all of the extention cords were still in the shed. Well, I decided that I had been putting up the same tree for about 10 plus years and never had a problem with the lights before. I just plug them in and they all work and pow! Then I decorate. My tree is pre-lit with only clear lights. But over the years I have decided that I wanted colored lights. So for the past 5 years (maybe a little longer) I add 3 strands of colored lights to the tree. Yes, I am my Mother's daughter and Yes, I learned to light a tree from my dad. My dad taught me that you have to put lights twirled around every single branch. He used to say, "your mom likes a lot of lights".

Now that I think about it, that might be why I love decorating Christmas trees so much. We used to do it as a family all while we grew up. Dad would come home a little early from work and He, Carla, and I would bring in all of the stuff from the shed. Mom would make something for dinner and then we would eat. After we ate, Dad and I would put the lights on the tree (sometimes for hours) and Mom and Carla would start packing away the nic-nacs and putting out the Christmas ones. We would play Christmas cd's and all sing along. When the tree was lit to perfection, Mom would sit in the floor and hand us the ornaments. Carla and I would place them on the tree. We got to pick where each ornament went for the most part (with some traffic direction from my mom). By the end of the night, the house would be decorated, the tree would be perfect, and the candy dishes were full of m&ms and hersey miniatures.

Those are amazing memories. I love to remember them....but on this Sunday night, there was no Christmas music in the air, there was no family helping me, and there definetly was no candy dishes. However, shortly after I started Amber came home and offered to help. There really wasn't much for her to do so she just kept me company while I diligently worked on putting the lights on the tree. I only found 2 strands of colored lights. So, I was a little sad because I usually put 3 strands on. Then, in one of the boxes I found a brand new 3rd strand. I shaped the tree and then added all 3 strands of colored lights. Amber found me the necessary extention cords after inquiring why it wasn't plugged in. So, we held our breath and waited for the big "AWE" moment as I plugged in the tree.

We released our breath in disgust as no lights came on when I plugged it in. UGH! What do you mean NO LIGHTS!!!!! I said to my self. I checked all of the plugs around the trunk of the tree. Guess what happened next.....Yup! I got lights. Granted, it was only the bottom lights that came on. And only the clear ones at that! How can this be I asked myself. I fumbled and fiddled. Still only the bottom section had lights. I got very frustrated. I unplugged all of the colored lights and just plugged in the clear lights. Same outcome. So, now, I am totally frustrated and a little ticked. I do something next that suprised Amber and even myself. I KICKED my Christmas Tree! Low and behold, guess what happened! You got it! Lights. Don't get too excited. It was only the top lights that came on. No lights in the middle. So, at this point I took a few deep breaths. Then I kicked the tree again. (Hey, it worked the first time, right?!?!) Nope, no go. So, I took all 3 strands of the colored lights off of the tree. I started trying to replace fuses and bulbs. Still nothing. I couldn't bear it any longer. So, I unplugged it and went to bed.

The next day (Monday) I got up and went to work. It was a busy day and I did not think about my tree until I got home late that night. I did not mess with it. Tuesday was the same. But on my way home Tuesday night I thought about it and what I was going to do. I tell you honestly, I thought about just throwing the whole thing in the trash. But instead I stopped and bought one single strand of clear lights. Once I was home I unboxed those lights and wrapped them around my hand (to make putting them on the tree easier). I then plugged them in. They came on and I started putting them on the tree (but just in the middle section where there were no working lights). I get half way done and guess what - my hand is filled with unlit bulbs. Turns out that only half the strand was working but I couldn't see the bottom half that wasn't working. ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!?!? After checking and changing out about 5 bulbs I call it good and ball up the portion of the lights that are not working and stuff them in the center of the tree. I was tired of dealing with it and frustrated beyond belief. But I wanted a tree up for the kid's sake. And too, I thought if I could ever get this tree up it would change my mood this year. But I guess my mood was powerful and maybe it was what was effecting the tree.

That night I put the ornaments on the tree. I even put Brennen's ornaments on the tree which I have not done in several years. But by the time I was done with those, I was tired. I went to bed. And I didn't touch the tree again until Christmas afternoon when I finally put the star on the top during Christmas Lunch. I did not even put the usual beads as garland or the ribbons that flow from the top to the bottom. Poor unfinished tree. So, here are some pictures of the tree.

Please love this tree. When Christmas is over it is going in the trash! I can not do that again next year. As you look at these pictures please do not second guess yourself. If you think I am drunk and took crooked pictures....you are wrong. The tree is actually leaning. I tried to caption the extent that it is leaning but the pictures just don't do it justice.

So, stay tuned for how we spent Christmas.....

The little tree

Every year (well, for the past few years) I have helped my mom put up her tree. A few years ago, she decided not to put up her big tree and instead bought a smaller (3 or 4 foot) tree. So now, every year the question for my mom is....."which tree are you going to put up?"

This year my mother decided to put up a small tree. It seemed fitting this year with things that have occurred in the recent past. One night over dinner we discussed what the little tree had looked like the last time we put it up (2 years ago). We remembered about all of the gold that was on that tree. It had gold ornaments, gold garland, and a gold star. It could be named a disco tree. This was not a choice but because she got it so late that those were the only ornaments left at that time. As we discussed it, it was decided between my mother and I that she wanted some new decorations on the tree. A few days later, I went shopping. I found a few snowmen. If you know my mom, you know that she loves snowmen. I also found a small container of colorful decorations. Some of them were a little weird looking. Notice the green PINECONE and the glass SNOWMAN in this picture:

After we put these on the tree, we sat back and looked at it. There was a red star that hung on one of the bottom branches. It really stood out and just looked awesome.

After we were done, I decided that there just wasn't enough ornaments still. I told my mom to let me look for some more ornaments the next day before we put the garland on. So, we left it with only lights and ornaments on the tree for that night. The next day I went to Big Lots and found some more ornaments. They were really cute. And guess what......yup they had snowmen in the set too.

So, without any further stalling, here is a picture of my mom's little tree. It turned out beautiful!!!!!!! I hope she really enjoys it.

Merry Christmas!

MERRY WINTER!!!!!

I have finally decided when I stopped blogging. It was somewhere between not having to work graveyards anymore and working on a computer all day long. As I sit here at 4:06am (on a graveyard), it dawned on me...."when was the last time you wrote a blog". I haven't looked (because that could be scary) but I think it was sometime shortly after my birthday. So, I really should be taking time to catch up on some paperwork that I just haven't had the time to do but I wanted to take a few minutes and write.

Lots of things have been happening - although that is pretty normal. I got to go to Mamaw's this year for Thanksgiving. It has been a few years since I have been able to go - but it worked out. Mom and I traveled together. Our trip was so blessed. I love getting to see everyone and catching up with them. I miss seeing my whole family. There were several that had other plans and could not make it so our numbers were a little low this year, but it was intimate and relaxed. I can only hope that in the years to come, my family will still strive for and long to get together. We say so many of the time "what we should do" and very little of the time we actually do it. But anyways, I was super happy.

I haven't really stopped since then. Different things going on. Mainly working. Since I was gone over Thanksgiving, the end of November snuck up on me. We have till the 7th to complete all of our end of the month stuff. Boy, let me tell you....It took me all the way until the 7th too. I have been attending more doctor's appointments with my clients and doing things a little more staff oriented. I am also planning two work Christmas Parties and plan on just attending a 3rd. We are changing our dayhab program. This is the program where we each teach a class for the individual's weekly. From Aug to mid November, I taught Self Advocacy. I changed the class in mid November to a "How To Draw" class where I taught them simple things to draw step by step. I will continue that through December. In January I opted not to teach a class but instead volunteered to do all of the organizing of the classes and all of the paperwork part that goes with it. Wow! I am kinda regretting that decision right now. We are in the midst of the Holidays and I can see the end of the month stuff creeping up as I try to get all of these new classes organized by January. Not to mention, I had to fire a girl at 1:30 this morning, so now I am working graveyards too. AAAAGGGHHHHH!!!!!!

Some personal stuff going on. I attended a very nice service for Cliff Butts last week. For those of you who don't know, this was Scotty's dad and he passed away. I also took Mimi to Albuquerque this week for a doctor's appt. We had a good time visiting and catching up. The drive was really pretty nice.

This weekend I am planning to put up my tree. If it doesn't get done this weekend, It is not getting done. I have decided. But I am also going to help my mother put her tree up. She has decided to do her little tree this year. Most years I will argue with her a little and try to convince her to put up the big tree - but honestly, this late in the game, I am kinda relieved that it will be the little one this year. I love helping her. And decorating a Christmas Tree is one of my favorite things to do, but man, this month has really ran away.

I am truly loving this cold weather. I (like my Sister) and enjoying the crisp air and everything that winter brings (like funny little hats). Everyone too, is complaining around me - but I LOVE IT!!!!!

Well, I guess I will close with that and am totally intending to blog some more real soon. Maybe after I decorate!