Pinay mom parenting her Caucasian/Filipino daughter in suburban America.
Left to my own devices, I would not have started putting up the Christmas tree this early. But I’ve been inspired by Amy at Inherent Passion, The Deans, Beth over at Mommy Come Lately — they’ve done their decorating over the Thanksgiving weekend.
We usually wait until the 1st or 2nd weekend of December, probably because I was working full-time for the last six Christmases. This year, since I have become an SAHM, why not have the Christmas spirit in our home early? Mary is surely enjoying it.
We usually have a REAL tree. This year, we are just going with our 3-ft plastic tree. Mary does not mind and I really do not want to go to the trouble and expense of a Noble Fir tree (Home Depot has their 7-8 ft for $52.97!) and then pay the Boy Scouts $10 to haul it away in January. I’m going to miss that real tree smell, though.
A lot of the ornaments for the tree are Jack’s from his single parent years with his elder daughter. Like these fancy balls…
This ballerina ornament is from my first Christmas in Vancouver, Canada.
Larger versions of these star ornaments are the traditional decorations in the Philippines— called parol.
Mary’s first ornament - contains a piece of red, shiny wrapping paper— the only thing that interested her that First Christmas.
When told that she can get a treat from Cabela’s, Mary chose this ornament.
Mary is not quite finished decorating the tree…
But, the Christmas season in our home has begun!
16 Responses to “Let The Holidays Begin”
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Welcome!
Mary is my "I'm Not a Baby!" daughter and this is my blog about her and our life in suburban America. Parenting tales, our travels and travails, forays into great and not-so-great restaurants, kitchen adventures--- all chronicled with as much photos as you can stand. Comments are very much appreciated --- let me know you dropped by! Thank you.
Val
November 27th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
I don’t know how I’ll celebrate xmas this year. I am actually expecting a shipment that day and do inspections.
Amy
November 27th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
The tree looks lovely. The perfect size for Mary. I love the ornament she picked at Cabelas. Thanks for the linkage!!
Let The Holidays Begin
November 28th, 2007 at 12:29 am
[...] Listaholic - Help, I Can’t Stop Creating Lists added an interesting post today on Let The Holidays Begin [...]
Manisha
November 28th, 2007 at 12:42 am
Only 3 ft, V? It looks much taller!
Love all your ornaments! They are so pretty!
And, yes, we swung into action today too! No tree yet and I am sure we will debate live tree vs fake again. My husband turned on the lights on our pine and blue spruce outside! We didn’t take them down after last Xmas and we had our lights on till late Feb - we had so much snow that it looked quite pretty! And it still does!
Now to do somethign about that tree!
~*~ Jennifer ~*~
November 28th, 2007 at 6:49 am
if you go to boomama’s web-site… she is hosting a Christmas open house… you could participate…. you already have.
I love seeing other people’s decorations… I don’t really care for decorating… so I had to actually set a date on the calendar. I’m going to do it the first. ::sigh:: Want to come over?? HA HA!
I like the ballerina best… then Mary’s bears are a close 2nd. °Ü°
Ronnica
November 28th, 2007 at 8:57 am
That’s cool what you did for Mary’s first Christmas ornament with the paper. When my brother and I would decorate the tree as kids, our favorite ornaments were always the ones from the years that we were born!
I probably won’t do much/any decorating in my apartment this year. I don’t think either of my roommates will do anything, so I don’t feel like putting in the effort. I have pink lantern lights in my room that remind me of Christmas lights, so that is enough. I do go all out with sending Christmas cards and giving gifts though, because I enjoy bringing joy to others!
MarysMom
November 28th, 2007 at 10:13 am
Val, it’s tough celebrating Christmas in Dubai. I will think of your while we open presents.
Amy, my pleasure- I give credit where credit is due and also my way to say thanks for having me on your blog roll.
Manisha, I have to drive by your house sometime…
Jennifer, thanks for the tip. I’ll help (or Mary would) anytime.
Ronnica, we almost lost that paper yesterday. Mary was unwrapping ornaments while I was checking the lights on the tree, when I finally got around to the ornaments, I usually open up THAT ornament to see the paper inside and to tell Mary about it and Lo and Behold, it was empty! I asked Mary about it and she said, “It was only paper inside!” She thought it was trash, so discarded it. She was able to locate it and I then told her what it is. She is tickled pink that it was from when she is a baby— I might have to tell her again, next year.
Brian Fitzpatrick
November 28th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Hi Val! Thanks for stopping by my blog (http://www.fitzbiz.org or http://writer.fitzhome.com) and pointing out that my comments weren’t working. I believe I’ve fixed that now.
Louisville is a great place. I had a lot of friends who went to CU Boulder and drove through Louisville and Niwot a time or two while I went to school at CSU…
Your tree is pretty! We’ll do ours this weekend with the girls. I’m a bit of a Scrooge, but I have two daughters and a wife who like the glitz and glamour of the season.
Have a great day!
–Fitz
KC
December 17th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
It all looks great
Merry Christmas
nicole
December 17th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
the snow in colorado makes it all the more beautiful! thanks for sharing!
Hootin' Anni
December 17th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Love the ballerina, and your decorator!!!
My holiday slide show tour is THIS WAY
SJ
December 18th, 2007 at 9:19 am
Thanks for sharing! The ornaments are so beautiful and special!
Nadine
December 18th, 2007 at 9:32 am
Lovely. I love the ornaments. Have a Merry Christmas.
Gretchen
December 19th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Merry Christmas. What a cutie decorator you have! I went to school and got married in Bldr. Grew up in Ft. C.
Blessings.
bonniebeth
December 19th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
tell Mary that I like the polar bears in the swing also
Thanks for letting me take the tour .
bonniebeth
Dawn
December 20th, 2007 at 4:38 am
How cozy your home is! And welcoming too! Thank you for allowing me to take a tour!
Merry Christmas from Dawn in Germany!