It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Growing up I always longed for a Christmas tree that I could have in my room. I wanted a short fat white tree with beautiful gold ornaments. When I was big enough my mom started letting me help put up the tree until she finally just gave me the job while she cooked us up something yummy in the kitchen. I loved being able to express my creativity and enjoyed the history of each ornament. The sled I made in school. The picture I took when I was four, the photographer was the first black person I remember ever seeing and I bit my lip almost the whole time because I was so shy. The toy soldier. The little bear. The angel with her multicolored lights. But to have my own, I was never so lucky that I can remember. Which, looking back is partly my own fault, I lived in the woods, why didn't I just go cut one down? I must not have thought of it.

Tonight I had to go shopping for a new tree. The one we've been using is a 6 foot tree that I bought our first Christmas when we were dirt poor just months before Peanut was born and had seen a cat or two. So last year I bought a cute little 4.5 footer when they were on sale. It was one of those prelit ones that are so popular. We set it up last night all ready to decorate but the middle strand of lights would not work, despite Nickel's best efforts. I attempted in vain to return the sucker but ol' Wally World would not take back my never before used tree because it had been about 7 months too long. I could have pitched a fit right there in the store like most people do, but I was resolved to not be immature and instead just left. I brought it home. I might still use it and just put a strand of lights there where they're not working. But because Wally World would not even consider helping me (they are the ones that sold me a defective tree they could have at least given a partial credit) I decided to not purchase my next tree from them. I hate Wally World anyway and am now refusing to buy any of my Christmas presents from them. This will not break their bank, they didn't blink an eye the last time I refused to buy anything from there for 6 months, its just the principle of the thing.

Ok, where was I? I need to get off this rant on Wally World. Oh yes, shopping for a new tree. After picking up Peanut from her after-school care we headed over to Hobby Lobby where the trees are 40% off this week. We wondered around and I finally picked a (non prelit) 7.5 tree. Nickel told me that he can't figure me out, first I bought a shorter one then I bought a tall one. I said, "yeah, what's your point?" Men, they just don't get it, do they? Hello! Hee hee hee!!! My real reasoning is after seeing just how short the 4.5 footer was I decided I didn't really want our main tree to be that short.

Anyway, back to my story, I picked out a tree. Peanut and I continued to peruse through the holiday cheer and came across some really cute trees. They had black ones, they had fushia ones, they had silver ones, they had the boring traditional ol' green ones, but they also had this pretty light pink one. Peanut fell instantly in love with this tree. "Please, Momma, PLEASSSSSSEE!" she said. I caved. I understood her feelings. I too longed for my own tree at that age. It was only $19.99. *cough, cough* Well, that's more then I paid for the little one that didn't work last year but it's so cute I couldn't say no. We picked out some ornaments. She wanted to go all crazy and put ornaments that just did not look good, but we agreed that since I was paying for all of it I had the final say in what she got. When she's older and wiser I'll release the reins a little. This is the girl who tries to get away with wearing lime green shorts with a red shirt and brown cowboy boots because "red and green look good together and the boots are her favorite". Sometimes being the mom and having veto power is good. Well, of course we had to decorate it tonight before we could even do homework. My 7.5 footer is still in the box. I had church and choir practice tonight but if we get the 1-12 inches of snow and they cancel school we'll have something to do tomorrow besides build snow forts and snow families and have snow ball fights and drink hot chocolate!

Oh, I almost forgot. Here's a picture of Peanut with her pretty pink tree. You can't really see the ornaments, they're silver disco-balls! There's a little white angel towards the top and there is a star on top, but I guess I cut it out of the picture by mistake. Peanut's hoping that Santa will leave all her presents under her tree. Santa and I may talk and see what we can do.