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A Simple Christmas
Nov 23, 2007 Categorized: Life with Kids • Simplify •
“Put ‘em back on, Hunter. Quick!” I heard Will say as I was cleaning the kitchen after dinner. Bill had the bath water running, and I had told the kids they had to put all the ornaments back on the tree before they could get in the bath.
Today I made one of the best decisions I have made this year. I put up the Christmas tree with nothing but handmade ornaments Will and I made two years ago. I knew I couldn’t keep Hunter away from the tree. Last year I put up a little tree on the console table so I wouldn’t have to deal with her. But this year she likes to climb as high as possible, so even that wouldn’t keep her from wrecking my ornaments.
The kids have been so delighted to have the freedom to touch the tree and rearrange the ornaments at will, and they have done so many times already. There is nothing on there that was not made by a child except ribbon and lights. What a burden lifted! We have friends who decorate the tree, wrap the gifts, and then put a baby gate all the way around it. Now I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not have a tree than have to look at twinkling lights through a baby gate all season long. So I fought the urge to unwrap the glass ornaments one by one and sprinkle them around, avoiding the lower areas of the tree.
After hand-picking just three boxes of Christmas decor from the attic, I sprinkled the living room with just a hint of Christmas--holly sprigs and glittery berries peeking out every here and there, an advent calendar hanging next to the fireplace, and a snowman family on the mantel. It is glorious. I look around and sense Christmas in the air, but I put it up in one afternoon and can take it down in just the same. I’m considering doing it this way from now on!