Saturday, December 27, 2008

Afterglow

Our first Christmas tree in the new house is, appropriately enough, made up of some of our family ornaments and empty spaces where more of them would be if we could find the other box.

It pretty much represents our current state, partly settled in and partly still stumbling around, with an overall spirit of good cheer.

This is the first room since we had kids where we could actually fit a tree and the furniture into the same room. In the old place, we had to draw straws to see who got a chair and who had to sit on the floor when we wanted to watch TV during the holidays. I can't say as I'll miss that particular tradition.

Our tree doesn't go up until the weekend before Christmas, and the lights are lit until midnight on New Year's Eve. There is an ornament for each year for each kid, reflecting some milestone or special interest they had in each year. We collect a few from each vacation as keepsakes. Others have special meaning for my husband and me; those generally are from before the kids came along, and some came from our own childhood homes.

Trimming the tree becomes a trip down memory lane, with everyone sharing stories of the places and times we've shared. (Oddly enough, nobody seems to feel particularly nostalgic about taking the ornaments off again. Good old Mom and Dad always end up with that job.)

It took some doing to whip the place into shape in time for the holidays, and it's a long way from Martha Stewart perfection. But with the familiar decorations and goodies, and with family all around, it finally feels like home.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and that you're enjoying a peaceful, happy holiday season.

8 comments:

gina said...

i love your tree and room, very pretty. and starting your family traditions in your new home is wonderful. and what a conincidence!! i have no help when it comes time to take the tree down either!! lol

Lori @ Purple Snapdragons said...

I'm happy to hear you had a wonderful Christmas in your new home. Your room & tree are beautiful.

Anonymous said...

We did a variation on that tree decorating theme as ours includes ornaments that have been sitting in my office from Christmases past when we received them as gifts but didn't ever bother to get the Christmas boxes out of the basement to put them away. Now that we have a tree up here (for the first time in over six years) they are hanging on it and will get crammed in the boxes with everything else.

I'm glad you're having such a lovely holiday. May it continue through the New Year.

Anonymous said...

Oh. That last post was me. I got distracted

maryt/theteach said...

I'm glads you had a wonderful Christmas in your new house. The photo says "Cozy, family fun!" :)

spookydragonfly said...

It's so nice to hear that you and your family had a wonderful first Christmas in your new home...let the memories begin! Your room and tree look so pretty!

Anonymous said...

Very pretty and the first is always special..Have a very Happy New Year..

MyMaracas said...

Hi Gina! It is funny how all the help disappears on December 26, isn't it. ;-)

Sally, I always have a few stragglers somehow. They tend to rattle around in a drawer until next year, as I'm way too lazy to get the boxes back out.

Thanks, everyone, for the kind comments about the tree and the house, and for all your happy thoughts!