Oh Christmas Tree

On Sunday, we went to pick out our Christmas tree. We went to Lowe's because they're not as expensive, and they put them on sale because I guess they think Dec 14 is too late to put up a tree. Anyway, since you just throw away the real tree, and our house is too small for a giant one, we just go there. There were about 7 trees left to choose from. We were a row away, and Noah spotted one that he liked -- we walked over to it, and it was a great little tree. (Considering what the other 6 looked like!) We looked at one or two more, but went with the tree that Noah picked. He was SO proud!

Later in the day, Walt got the tree in to the stand, we dragged the ornaments out and started decorating. We were close to being finished, when all of a sudden, the tree just fell over. Crashed to the ground right in front of us! And Noah started to cry. He was so upset - I think it was a combination of the crash, the noise it made and me yelling for Walt. He kept saying "MY tree! MY tree!" I kept reassuring him that Daddy would get it fixed (and with some wood to hold the tree in place AND some rope, it finally is!). Even after he finished crying, he would get sad, stick out that bottom lip and say "I'm still really upset! Will you fix it just like it was, momma?" I tried my best to make it look the way it did before, but I think once it falls over, it never looks as good again.

We did let him put the star on top, so that seemed to help him feel better. I felt so bad for him though, I really think his little heart broke when the tree fell! Notice how he and Walt are making the same exact face - I guess it takes a lot of concentration to put the star on top.

Christmas Time is Here

Christmas specials are my favorite thing about Christmas. Cheesy movies, classic movies, animated shows - you name it, I'll watch it. I wait all year for all of my favorites to be shown on television. In fact, I still get that giddy, little kid feeling when I see the commercials for Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. (And to all of my boocklub friends out there, I briefly considered staying home last week to watch it...even though I own it!) It's my all time favorite, and I guess because when I was a little kid, you only got one chance a year to watch it. That was it, if you missed it, you had to wait an entire year just to see Rudolph learning to fly after Clarice tells him he's cute. These specials hold so much nostalgia for me, and when I watch them, I can just feel the Christmas spirit.

My mother always made a big deal out of the specials, too. Which is probably another reason why I get that warm, cozy feeling when I watch them. We were allowed to turn all of the lights off and just watch them with the glow of the twinkle lights in our beautifully decorated house. I mean, that's what Christmas was all about, Charlie Brown.

Anyway, last night, Noah and I were out, and when I was getting him out of the car, I said "Let's hurry, because Charlie Brown Christmas is on tonight!" (I think I might have even let out a "SQUEEEEEEE!") I was that excited to watch my second favorite Christmas special with my own child. Quickly, Noah burst that bubble. He looked at me funny, and said "Well, Mommy, we HAVE that movie!"

At that moment, I realized that these specials that have been around longer than I have, that I grew up waiting for with bated breath each year, will never, ever mean to Noah what they mean to me. Why would it? He can watch it 100 times in the month of December if he wants to. Or, if he's really feeling like he needs to see Charlie Brown's sad little tree turn in to the best Christmas tree ever in the middle of the summer, he can watch it in July.

On one hand, I think it's great for him...he can watch it whenever he wants. It's technology at his fingertips. On the other, I feel a little sad for him. That he'll never know the true anticipation of seeing a favorite show only once a year. I guess for one time a year, the tables will be turned - I'll be the one who gets excited when I see a commercial for Rudolph or Frosty or the Heat Miser specials, and Noah will remind me that it's no big deal at all.