Caution: Photo Overload
You asked for them, so here they are. Photos of the trees. Outdoor light photos will be coming either this weekend or early next week, depending on the Toddler's mood and the weather.
I don't actually count this as a "tree" per se since it's only about two feet tall, but this is Alexis' little starter tree. We are buying her an ornament or two or five every year for the rest of her life.
(Let's not talk about the fact that she's nearly two and I still haven't finished painting her room, mmkay?)
Here's one of her ornaments. I had it engraved at Things Remembered last year (after Christmas--I don't believe in paying full price for anything). It has her birth date (1-27-2006) and her weight because I am NEVER letting her forget that whole 9 pounds 12 ounces thing.
Now let's move on to my favorite tree--the Hodge Podge tree. It houses all of my favorite ornaments. Each and every one has some sort of story that goes with it. It sits atop our fireplace because I would most certainly lay an egg if anybody broke one of these ornaments.
Many of the ornaments are motion ornaments. My husband is required by law to buy one for me every year. I have one for each year we've been together. This is one of my favorites. It's the scene from Winnie the Pooh where Pooh gets stuck in Rabbit's hole. The whole gang moves back and forth as they try to unstick the chubby Pooh.
This is the one I got last year. It has a train that goes around the bottom and carolers that appear to sing for a moment, then go back inside.
And here's the Snow White one. She kisses each of the dwarfs as they walk around in a circle.
There are also ornaments for each of the special critters in our house (except Meg--I haven't found just the right one for her yet). Here's Powder:
When he was a kitten, he used to sleep in the lap of one of my giant stuffed bears and looked EXACTLY like that.
This one is Coal:
He's totally our angel. That's one cat with a serious guilt complex; we never catch him doing anything he shouldn't.
This is Prince:
He was the cat that slept in our Christmas tree, so it's fitting that his ornament shows him upside down and decked out in Christmas spirit.
This is Jasmine's ornament:
Lhasa Apso ornaments aren't exactly sitting on every street corner, so I had to settle for one that didn't match her colors.
Next up, my favorite tree. The Winnie the Pooh tree:
It doesn't photograph very well since most of the ornaments are resin (note to self: and because there are too freakin' many red lights on the thing--fix it next year!)
Next up, my favorite tree, the Boyds tree:
The Boyds tree is a perfect example of my cheap ways. I have never paid full price for a single one of these ornaments. Many have been gifts over the years, others I bought in January when they were half-priced. All are super-cute plush love.
And now for the big one, my favorite, the Magazine tree:
Picture perfect? Yes. Note the clear display of my OCD--even the wrapped gifts under the tree have to match the tree itself. It's no coincidence, folks. I keep an eye out every January for red/white/silver wrapping paper and ribbons because if the gifts don't match, my head might explode.
You might have noticed a trend of the cheap variety? It is my mantra with this tree. It has taken years to collect all of these ornaments and I am proud to say I have never paid full price for a single one (except the dollar store ones, but those probably don't count). Last year I added the glass candy canes. I bought seven boxes when they were 75% off at Target.
And now you all know where to find me after Christmas--the clearance aisles at Target. (Yes, I know you are all dying to know what happens when my OCD spreads to the great outdoors and manifests itself in the form of 15,000 outdoor lights. Photos have finally been posted.)
Monday, December 10, 2007
Reader Comments (28)
Holy decorative talent! Color me impressed. You seriously rock.
But first let me pause and *gasp* at the 9lbs 12oz beauty. OUCH.
Back to the trees. They're awesome. We have 4 (FOUR) decorated trees this year and I always ask why I do it until they are all done.
You are my hero. I've gotta get a plan and stick with it. My problem is that I just buy beautiful clearance items willy nilly and then have randomness going on. And I've totally convinced hubby to do several trees next year. See what a night away, just the two of us, will do? ;)
You are kiddin' me!!! That little dear was born a toddler!!! You have my pity. I thought my 8 lb. 5 oz. was a whopper. I stand corrected.
Wow. I'm so so impressed. Can you come over and help me now? I have one tree and it's rather badly decorated. I could use a tree intervention.
I love that each of them is your favorite! :)
We've only got one tree, and its not even up yet.... *sigh*
But when it is, its covered in ornaments made by my boys, and the Coach and I when we were younger.
YOU.ROCK. I tried to count the trees as I was reading but totally lost count. Those are amazing. I love how they look so full. Everytime I try that it just ends ups looking...random. I especially love all the moving ornaments!
Punkin' was 9 lbs 1 oz, so I sorta feel your pain. Actually, no I don't because she was born via c-section! :P
Around our town they do house tours for the holidays. The committee comes in to help decorate the homes and they are just so much fun to go see. I've yet to see one as decorated as yours. You should get in on something like that.
I can't wait to see the outside.
WOWZA!! Sensory overload is causing my eyes to cross. You give those of us who haven't even put 1 tree up yet a bad name.
Where did you get that huge Light Bright thing? That is really cool!
Fortunately, we were aware that we were about to have a Toddler, so a c-section was ordered. I'll have to share the whole story sometime because I'm still a littler bitter about the whole thing. Dr. LaBella, I'm talking to you. BITTER.
There are four trees plus Alexis' starter tree. The Hodge Podge tree is four feet, Pooh is five feet, Boyds is six feet, and then main one is probably 7.5 feet. Separate trees was actually born of necessity because all those ornaments look like crap when they are put together.
Worksformom--Pictures, please!
Karen--Yay for a night away working some magic! Thanks for the kind words. If we ever manage to get a bigger house, I would absolutely be part of a tour of homes. As it right now, there's hardly a path to walk through given the Toddler stuff and dog stuff everywhere.
I'm so with WW (as per normal). HOLY HOLLY JOLLY!! How many is that? Four.
I will thank the epidural gods, but 9 12? Did you strangle that OB for letting her get that big??
I think her birthday is the same as another lady's girl I read.
You should've put this in for FM yesterday.
Thanks for being undomestic with me.
Thank you for leaving a comment for CJ on my blog - we both appreciate it so very much!!
I bow at your feet, btw. You are ONE TALENTED CHICK!! The trees are simply awesome!!
WOW!
Hallie
http://wonderfulworldofweiners.blogspot.com/
we're not worthy!
you are way better at decorating than I ever could be, even with a much larger budget! Beautiful work!
I also thought my big ol' 8lbs 14 oz of Gavin was big (Cooper, bless my wonderful doctor, was induced at 39 weeks and was a mere 8lbs 3 oz). I'm sure your bottom is still having phantom pains even now!
Wow, wow, and wow!
You really can't pick one favorite. They are all great in their own way.
I can't wait to see the outside.
Oh my gosh! All the trees! Those are beautiful.
The rattle ornament is lovely.
Gorgeous!!! You've outdone yourself!!
I have you beat....Riley was 9 lb 14 oz! He would have been over 10 pounds but he pooped right after birth/before getting weighed. OUCH!
Love your decorating!
Thanks for sharing the pictures
I came to check out your blog and say hello, but unfortunately I seem to have PASSED OUT COLD with the joyful Christmas gorgeous spirit that resides in your home.
HOLY SHOOT, BATMAN.
Hi! I'll read the rest when I'm over my sudden and massive inferiority complex!
Would that be Dr. Christine Labella?! I went to her for years, and thought she was pretty cool. Then, after 1 year of trying to have a baby with no success, Jim and I had a consultation with her about our options. I was so disgusted by her unsympathetic, cold way that she treated the situation, that I never went to her again. Do you still go to her?
P.S. Please can you tell me where you got that big Light Bright? I love it, and I want to buy Dylan one.
Jen--Yup, that's the one. If I had a dollar for every time I heard her say, "That's a big baby in there!" while I was pregnant, I would be very, very rich. And yet, it didn't dawn on her that maybe we should find out just how big and, I don't know, maybe induce a little early instead of letting things go past due and get way out of hand. I still like her, but I would love to slap her a few times.
Light Bright? Which picture? I don't know of a Light Bright in our house. There's a big Etch a Sketch . . . ?
Pam--Um, I don't think it's a good thing to surpass the 9 12 thing. But good for you in being all proud of it! ;-)
Krissy--You crack me up. I knew I liked you from the moment I read three lines in your blog.
When I clicked on "finished painting her room" it took me to a post you did about the fact that her room still wasn't finished. There is a picture, that I thought was your home, but now I'm thinking maybe you were at the Children's Museum or something. Crap!
You're right, it was the Children's Museum. That wall of sparkly lights is worth the price of admission alone.
Beautiful!
9/12 OUCH!! Your little one shares the same birthday as my hubby, 30 yrs later :-)
My parents and grandparents have given each of us an ornament every year since birth.. when I got married, DH got included and we get a 'couples' ornament. We are now including our kids in this tradition.
It's so fun to shop for them and decorating the tree is an amazing history lesson and walk down memory lane!
Congrats!!
wow, I totally feel like a loser now. I don't even have ONE tree and have no intention of putting one up. I figure it is the last year I can get away with it and if I put one up it would just be one more thing to say "no, no" to boog about.
trees are beautiful, btw. :)
All gorgeous trees! Your OCD is really paying off! My husband complained when we did 2 trees, but after moving and just putting up one he, himself, admitted we need another tree. A man actually said that! Thanks for the visit.
All of your trees are beautiful. You did a wonderful job decorating.
Loved the ornaments. You are very talented! Thanks and hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
So many pretty trees and ornaments
Your trees are amazing! You really have a lot of talent- I keep thinking if I shop enough sales that my ONE tree might slightly resemble one of yours but alas I just don't have that talent! Beautiful!!!!
Very pretty trees! I love the boyds one and the winnie the pooh ones best!