Tag Archives: christmas-tree

Traditions

Posted on by
Reply

I have just started preparing for the holidays. My neighbor has all the lights up around his house and is working on the inside! Wow! We will probably start doing that this weekend. We always miss the good weather and end up doing it in the snow. Crazy us.

We’ll get down all of the boxes and boxes of lights and ornaments that are up in the attic over the garage, and I will get out my Lego Village and put it on a long folding table upstairs for display. (We bought the Lego Christmas train this year to add to the village!)

We won’t build the Lego set or put up the tree until kiddo gets home from college, another tradition we’ve started over the last few years. Everyone takes turns putting all the decorations and ornaments on the tree, and if you know me, I will rearrange them a million times before it looks just right.

It’s fun to create traditions that are your own. My husband’s mom passed away recently, and I remember her kindness and thoughtfulness to me when I was struggling with a piece of writing. She would always review my books, and they were always honest and still positive. One of her traditions she started was sending us a Hallmark Christmas ornament around Thanksgiving each year.

We sometimes got the tree up early, but usually it was about two weeks before Christmas. When kiddo came into our lives, David’s mom started sending fun kid ornaments. We have a whole box of them now, and we only put up a few of them for sentimental reasons. This is the first holiday season we will be without her, so I decided to keep the tradition going. I bought a Hallmark ornament for us and for my husband’s Dad. He received it last week, and I think it cheered him up a little bit. I will try to honor her in the future in a way I hope has meaning for all.

And we always hope for a dusting of snow like in the movies, but of course, we haven’t had any snow or rain in 233 days now, so who knows? We can wish. I love you all this week before the holiday season starts. And remember those in need through Colorado Gives Day on December 9th!  https://www.coloradogives.org/

And, of course, catch up on my series before the new ones go live:
SHOP Drusilla Tieben on Amazon

Christmas Collections and Traditions from the Nerd Family-This is Who We Are!

Posted on by
Reply

When I finished decorating the Christmas tree today, I looked at it and said to myself, “Boy or Boy, are we the nerd family or what?” Looking over the ornaments we have collected over the years, here is what I saw:

Lots and lots of Lego ornaments (assembled lovingly by all of us over these last few years);
A Wall-e figure (that talks);
A Tardis (yeah, you know what I’m talking about); and,
Many cute, framed pictures of Kiddo (from 2-year-old karate days to pre-teen years-what a ham;
Lots of lots of Weiner Dogs-and some have on pajamas! Too funny!

And the nerd of all nerd ornaments that we have saved for many years but didn’t put on the tree this year: An entire Rubbermaid storage box of spaceships (Star Trek and Star Wars).

So now is the time to bring out all your fond memories and decorate your tree in your own nerdy way! It’s our fun family tradition where we don’t fight much and enjoy each other a little bit.

Make your own version of the 1950s classic Chex Mix in your own way and enjoy a big bowl, sitting around the tree! I love you all and hope you have a great holiday season creating your own fond memories with your children and grandchildren around you.

Classic Christmas Music, Cookies, Decorating the Tree, and Construction

Posted on by
Reply

December should be the time of year where you focus on everything Christmas, right? Unfortunately, we still have projects to do and mile(stones) to go before we sleep(finish)!

Here is how I balanced it today: Contractor came in and put in both the outside doors. Having bought them almost a year ago, it was time…. Took almost all day. We had to do the cleanup, and I will have to trim and paint later. One more thing on that list.

Went to the grocery store. Not too many people at 3pm in the afternoon!

As for the Christmas, the lights on the outside are all strung and working (Thank you David!)

Today, we put on the classic Christmas music, put up the tree, and finished decorating it. Kiddo helped and it looks beautiful.

The never-ending list narrowed down to December:

Finish putting storage boxes back down (where doors were stored) to take the tree down afterwards.
Decorate all the Knick knacks on the tables and hang the stockings on the mantlepiece.
Finish baking cookies and bread.
Distribute said baked goods to family and friends.
Wrap presents.
Make dinner (and repeat every day!).
Make breakfast (and repeat every day!).
Make lunch (and repeat every day!)
Contractors coming in to fix things that the dishwasher installers broke…. (a story unto itself-heavy sigh)
Finish painting closet doors.
Senior choir concerts next two weeks. Help with setup.
Bake and prepare for the senior choir potluck on the 27th.
Get a walk and swim in sometime during the week!
Read and Write and Post.

So, I’m a little tired today. I am continuing to make lists so that eases my brain a little bit. I’m trying not to explode on loved ones. The point of this writing exercise is to let you know that you aren’t the only person who has an overwhelming list. Take one task at a time, love the moment you are in, and just remember that I am with you 100%. Take a break in the evenings. Have a good dinner and binge watch Interior Chinatown Season 1 and get as confused as we were! Thank you, Taika Waititi for being your usual self!

Laugh a little, love a little, and forgive those who dun you wrong and forget about it in your next phase of life.

Love and hugs to all y’all!