Roberts Christmas 2011

Christmas has always been a time of year I slightly dread.  I've always been what some might call "Scrooge" until about Christmas Eve.  I really like the holiday for the true meaning .... Christ, but when it comes to all the commercialization of the holiday I've never been a fan.  It drives me absolutely bonkers to walk into a store and see Christmas things before Thanksgiving.  And every year it seems to occur earlier and earlier.  This year their were pumpkins and scarecrows next to Santa and the reindeer.  All in due time I say.  

My mom never really helped in my Christmas disliking attitude growing up, with the annual decorating to commence at the Schmelz household after Black Friday shopping.  Although, this may not seem all that abnormal, it was when it came to her beloved nutcrackers.  She's collected them as long as I can remember.  While decorating and unpacking the nutcrackers she would talk to them and brush their little beards.  If someone did not know my mother and witnessed this event, Adult Protective Services may have been called on us for not turning her into a looney bin.    

Now fast forward to present day.  About 4 weeks ago our neighbor, Jack, was outside hanging Christmas lights on his garage.  This was just the inspiration Jared needed to transform into Clark Griswold.  So off to Lowe's we went to buy Christmas lights, extension cords, a new wreath for the front door, garland, bows, etc.  I grumbled a little bit, but quickly decided I would much rather help hang lights outside that day when it was 65 degrees than to wait until I felt it was more appropriate to hang the lights (ex. until at least after Thanksgiving) and it would most likely be freezing cold.  We agreed the lights would not be turned on until after we returned from Thanksgiving vacation.

While at Lowe's we realized a couple of things: 1) we didn't really remember what the front of our house looked like, and 2) we didn't know how many linear feet of lights it would take.  Upon returning home we realized a third point, our ladder was not going to get the job done.  We ended up borrowing our other neighbor, Paul's, ladder.  We conquered the garage and moved on to the porch.  Jared next attempted to hang lights on the other and highest peak, but quickly recognized his life might be in jeopardy to do so.  We cheated and used net lighting on the shrubs, which made things go quickly except that they were all planted just far enough apart to make it challenging to connect them easily.

The lighting of the outside did not go completely smoothly, as we bought garland that was too short, then exchanged it for garland that was too long.  Third time's the charm right?  We had to go back to Lowe's a couple more times to get more extension cords and splitters to make it all work just right.  At the end Jared was happy with the results and anxiously awaited for our return from vacation to light up the outside.  Jared would like to do more, and already tried to convince me to get one of those blow-up decorations and I quickly said "no."  Those things are hideous.  I do believe each year we will continue to do more and more, and soon our neighbors will refer to us as the "Griswolds" and the astronauts will be able to see us in orbit.

Hard to get the full effect, but the outside of our home.

After returning from vacation we moved on to decorating the inside of our home.  From the first time we stepped into our home, I envisioned a tall pencil tree in the foyer.  But after looking at the prices of pencil trees in the stores, I decided that I would just have to wait until after Christmas this year to purchase one when it was on sale.  But luckily for me I have a very thoughtful husband who just so happens to be a savvy shopper too.  He found a great deal on a pencil tree on eBay and purchased it for me.  So while we waited for the tree to arrive, we started with the banister in our foyer going upstairs.  We started with garland and bows, and then decided to add lights.  The end result was well worth it.  Then we added the pencil tree with lights and ornaments and a bow up top and the foyer was complete.  

Tree and garland in the foyer

Last, but not least we needed a tree for our living room.  Friday night we drove to Lancaster and picked out our Frazier fir Christmas tree.  We measured it to make sure it would fit and at just over 7 feet tall it was the perfect height.  It looked kinda small in diameter there, but we we got it home and cut the netting off we quickly saw that it was a very "fat bottomed" tree.  We strung the lights, hung our ornaments, added the bow and the tree skirt and voila!

Berlin was very involved during the whole tree decorating process and seemed concerned something was in the tree.  She stood guard all night just in case.  Glad we were protected.  Memphis surprisingly has not climbed either trees .... yet.  He just thinks the banister garland is his personal chew toy.  I could vacuum twice a day and still have fake needles laying on the stairs.  The fly swatter (the only form of discipline that seems to work) stands guard on the stairs to help remind him he is not supposed to chew.

Berlin standing guard in case a critter escapes from the tree.

Finished tree ... now just need to shop and add some presents underneath.

I cannot wait to buy our little one it's first Hallmark ornament next year to hang on the tree.  I would like to say we are going to be responsible parents and not overdo Christmas with our baby, especially since he or she will only be ~9 months old next year and honestly what does a 9 month old really need?  But, I'm sure we'll be just like every other set of crazy parents and go crazy buying things.  I'm sure Grandma Penny, Pops, Nana Barb, Grandpa Johnny, and Grandma Lisa will not help contribute to the madness either! (Wink Wink) 

Merry Christmas from the Roberts - Nicole, Jared, baby Greyson or Kherington, Berlin and Memphis!!