Oh Christmas Tree

Last Monday, we decorated the Christmas tree as a family. I never try to do a theme or specific color scheme with my Christmas tree. We use the same ornaments year after year along with any new ones we acquire over time. This is how it was in my family when I was growing up, and I have such fond memories of when I got to help my mother decorate the tree. For me, that’s what Christmas is about. It’s about creating fond memories as a family that will last a lifetime. It isn’t about trendy decorations or how perfect everything has to be. That being said, one of these years, I really ought to get a decent tree skirt :)

When Grant put up the tree, I kept telling the girls not to push on it or play with the branches because we didn’t want it to fall over. Eleanor got creative and decided that blowing on the tree would be a happy alternative. Phaedra quickly mimicked Eleanor’s actions, and we had two little girls walking around the Christmas tree and blowing on it.

Eleanor and Phaedra loved helping decorate. I handed any non-breakable ornaments to Phaedra, and she dropped them on the lower branches. If I helped her put them on so they actually hung from the tree, she soon decided they needed relocated. We have clusters of ornaments in some areas and patches that have hardly anything. As you can see, our tree is mostly only decorated above my waist level. There are two reasons for this. One is that my waist level is about the highest Eleanor can reach this year, and she likes placing ornaments high on the tree. The other is because I placed the more fragile ornaments where Phaedra hopefully can’t reach them.

The Christmas tree has proven to be quite the temptation for Phaedra.

She knows I’m watching her, so she attacks the other side of the tree.

This is her innocent “I’m just looking at it” smile. If she thinks I’m not convinced by this, she blows on the tree to show that she knows the acceptable way to interact with the Christmas tree.

And maybe I’ll just give it a little bump with my belly.

Even with her mischief that causes all my ornaments to be spread around the house, I have to love that face.

Patience can Wait

On Saturday, we went to our ward Christmas party. I opted not to take my camera as it would just be one more thing to gather when it was time to go home. Of course, I regretted that decision. I had no idea the primary kids were going to perform for us. All the kids got up on the stage. We couldn’t see Eleanor at first, but pretty soon, she and her friend, Audrey, pushed their way to the front. They were hilarious, hamming it up the whole time. Eleanor tried to sing some of the time, but the rest of the time, she spent mimicking Audrey, goosing her, and waving to us. At one point, Eleanor said very loudly, “I’m on the stage. Hi everybody!”

Eleanor was so afraid of Santa when she was younger, that we didn’t even try to have her sit on Santa’s lap last year. This year, I had to twist Grant’s arm to stay at the party so she could have a chance to see Santa. She was so excited. She didn’t even acknowledge that there was a line of other children waiting to talk to him; she just walked right up to him until a helper directed her to the line. Since she was so little, they directed her to the front of the line, which helped Daddy feel more agreeable about the situation. Of all the things she could ask for, what does my daughter tell Santa she wants? A rake. My daughter asked Santa for a rake for Christmas. That should be fun to track down. I don’t know why I would have expected anything less from this girl.

Today, as we were sitting at lunch, Eleanor asked for something. I don’t even remember what it was now, but I was going to have to go get it from the kitchen for her. I told her she was going to have to wait because I was helping Phaedra at the moment. So, Eleanor sat there, asking for it again and again. I told her I had heard the request, she didn’t have to keep asking me for it, I just needed her to wait for a bit. So, she sat there, saying, “I’m waiting. I’m waiting. I’m waiting. I’m waiting.” When I asked her to stop saying that, she switched to, “I’m being patient.” I got up and got her what she needed.

Christmas Knoll

It has become a tradition over the last few years for us to gather as many of the Matthews family as possible to go get Christmas trees at a place called Christmas Knoll. I really love this tradition, and I hope the girls will remember it fondly. We went to get our tree last Saturday. This year, we had a small group: our family and Grandma and Alex, but we loved it just the same.

They have two different tractors that pull trailers. One trailer looks like a train car, and one looks more a hay ride; both are decorated in Christmas colors. We rode the trailer that is more like a train on our way out. I could tell Phaedra liked sitting on the seat all by herself.

Then, the tractor dropped us off and we began our hunt.

And, of course, we played around in the trees a bit.

Eleanor helped her daddy cut down our tree. She’s holding a branch that she found, and it quickly became her special stick.

Then, we went to cut down Grandma’s tree.

And we headed back to get picked up by the tractor.

We caught the one with the hay bales on the way back.

We always have to get pictures on the “Noel Express.”

After that, we go into the barn for hot chocolate and cookies while the guys get the tree bound and packed into the truck.

boxwood pottery annual holiday sale

My father-in-law, Duane Matthews, is a very talented local ceramic artist. If you happen to be in the Salem area in the next few weeks, you should definitely come take a look. The sale features original hand thrown, carved and glazed porcelain pottery. All pieces are fully functional, dishwasher, oven, and microwave safe.
Feel free to call ahead to ask about specific items or pricing or to get directions. You will find the perfect gift for the holiday, or irresistible pieces for your private collection of work by local artists. These porcelain pieces can be enjoyed every day--either on display or on the table. I have my own collection, and I use them often. Don't miss out!

In Desperate Need of Humidity

This is winter in Oregon! Where is all the rain?

Phaedra’s hair halo.

We keep shocking each other all day long. Our family room couch has become an epicenter for static. The girls are always rolling around on it, and this is how they look afterwards. It has been way too cold for Oregon, and we could really use some humidity!