Redneck Wishes

One of the Christmas wishes I had this year was to buy a real Christmas tree, tie it to the top of the van, and then ride around town watching everyone smile as we passed by. You see, it thrills me to see this very thing when other people do it, and I always honk and smile at them. Silly, little girl things make me happy.


Well, I got my wish. Donnie, I and the kids went to a tree farm and bought a live Christmas tree. We noticed when we got there, however, that they didn't seem to be exactly the kind of tree we wanted and really looked like they would be extremely difficult to decorate. It was a White Pine, by the way. Most of you are probably saying that I should have known better and not gotten it, but here I was, caught up in the moment and so looking forward to the tieing down on the van part. We tried very hard to pick out the fullest, fluffiest tree we could find. And, we thought we had done pretty good, until...we got it home and got it inside.


Let me back up a little bit. We did tie it down and we did drive all around town with our tree on top. I even rolled the windows down so that I could see the smiles on the passers by. You know what, I really don't think I saw one person smiling. I don't think it made anyone else as happy as what it always makes me. Am I weird, or what? Nobody even honked their horn and gave us a thumbs up. Yes, I have done that too. You know what, it really doesn't matter what others thought, because I had an absolute ball making my "redneck" (what my family calls it) wish come true. It made my day and that's what matters, right?


Now back to the pine. When we got it inside and tried to determine which side to put in the front, we (the girls and I) realized there was not a good side. This was not a pretty tree. No bones about it. But, we tried. We wrapped lights and more lights. We put ornaments all over it. We even put ones way down deep inside to try to make it look fuller. We tried our hardest to make this tree work. And, then you know what we did. We took it down. Yes, my friends, we decorated it and undecorated it all within a matter of an hour or so. Then, after explaining to my sweet laid back husband what had just taken place, we went upstairs and brought down the artificial tree. The girls and I were so happy to get our old faithful tree set up and decorated. Donnie thought I had lost my mind. I must say that he wasn't very happy about my decision, but he never gets really mad, only a little disturbed.


Let me add that the tree only cost $12. Very inexpensive. Thank goodness the cost made it not be so bad that I had completely changed my mind. And, I have to say that the joy I got from riding around town with that Christmas tree on top was absolutley worth $12. No doubt.


Where is the live tree now, you might ask. Well, today Donnie and Faith took it to the front yard, right beside my sidewalk at my front porch steps, and strung lights all over it. They also placed some of Faith's toys all around it. Okay, it's not the exact place I would want it to be, but I cannot and will not complain. Faith is thrilled to have decorated it with her daddy and loves exactly where it is and how it looks.



I'm not sure if we are redneck because of the whole tree on top of the van or not, but we might just be with this tree right in my front yard. Who cares, right? Not me. :)

Beth started chopping down our tree.



Beth finished chopping down our tree. Yes, except for a few swings by the rest of us just so we could say we tried, Beth chopped down this tree. Swinging her softball bat certainly prepared her for this job.




The part I had been wishing for. Maybe, dreaming of. Yes, Donnie got out in the parking lot of Kroger and took pictures of me driving so I could always remember this moment in case he never let me do it again. :)


Almost entirely decorated. We actually got it all the way done minus a few ornaments and the star on top.


Now it's undecorated and waiting to be taken outside.

Here we are putting together the artificial tree. Major fluffing has to go on here. We have had this tree for many many years, but it still looks good to us.










Second time is a charm. The star wasn't on yet, but oh happy day, the second Christmas tree is doneDad and Faith decorating the tree outside. Isn't that a sad little tree?The finished tree right outside my front entryway. Faith even put toys around it to look like Santa had been here. And, yes, Donnie and Faith informed me that it is all staying. Do you think I could sneak it away for a few hours on Monday night for my party? No, I don't think so either. A child's wishes....very important. A mommy's decorating pride....not so much.

Yes, We Believe

Our home is full of believers. Yes, we do believe in Santa Claus and the Polar Express 4D Adventure in Dollywood was great, but that's not what I am talking about.

We believe in God the Father, we believe in Christ the Son, we believe in the Holy Spirit, Trinity, Three in One. (this is from a song we learned from a Christmas musical last year) We believe that God sent His son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. We believe in eternal life and that we will spend eternity in heaven because of our belief in Him.

Yes, we do believe!!

Our First Snow

We had our first snow of the season this past Saturday and, of course, we were all so excited. There is no doubt who gets the most excited though.

Faith wanted to build snowmen, have snowball fights, and make snowcream. About the only thing she could actually do was to make snow angels on the deck. It wasn't a lot of snow, but sure enough to make a little girl very happy. And, if Faith is happy, mommy is happy.

The New (Snow) Man In My Life

I absolutely love snowmen. They always look so happy and fun. I also like that I can leave them out for awhile after Christmas is over.

I also like a woodsy, natural look. A little subdued yet great looking is what I like to go for. Well, I found the most wonderful snowman ever. Maybe not ever to most people, but oh how I love this snowman. He is woodsy, natural, handsome, glittery, and he is now mine. This snowman makes me happy.

He has taken a prominent position in our family room and will remain there as long as I can possibly allow him to. He just fits.

I got him when we were on a family vacation in Pigeon Forge this week. He was at one of my favorite stores, Kirklands. Thanks, Kirklands, for the new (snow)man in my life. He's a keeper.

Rocketts In Music City

Man have we been busy these last couple of weeks. We traveled to Kingsport for Thanksgiving with my in-laws and then went to beautiful Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg for a few days after that. We have had so much fun just playing.

Last night, Donnie took me and the kids, my mom and his parents to see the Rocketts in Nashville. It was just as the title says, "Spectacular"! Let me tell you how amazing these dancers are. What precision and flexibility these ladies have. Oh, if only....

Not only was the dancing and singing incredible, but at the end was an amazing live Nativity. That just completed the night for us.

This year makes the second time that the girls and I have gone to the Christmas Spectacular with the Rocketts. I took them last year by myself and we had second floor balcony seats. Good seats, but a long way away from the stage. This year, Donnie had different plans for our seating arrangements. He purchased tickets on the floor, second row from the stage. We were so close that not much was left unseen. "I'm just sayin"..... My kids were afraid that their Papaw was gonna have a heart attack sitting that close.

No heart attacks were had and I am so glad we got to go again. I love taking my girls to stuff like that and it was great having my mom with us this year. If you ever have a chance to go, make sure you do. It will be well worth your time.

I would love to share photos of the show, but picture taking was not allowed. We did get a few photos afterwards though.

Keeping Up With My Hubby

My husband starting hitting the Black Friday sales about four years ago and I, personally, thought, he had gone mad. Now, don't get me wrong, I am the shopper in the family and I actually love shopping a little too much. I just don't like losing sleep...for any reason. And shopping was no exception.

Well, after a couple of years of his going bargain shopping (by the way, he doesn't really like to shop, he just likes bargains) and coming home with major good deals and all kinds of treasures, I decided I had missed out long enough. I decided I could lose a couple hours of sleep to be able to go out on the hunt with my hubby.

This year, as in the past two years, we have gotten up around 3:30 am and headed out for our shopping adventure. The funny thing is that now two out of three of our children have decided they don't want to miss out on all the fun mom and dad are having, and now they go with us. We leave our little one at home with the grandparents, and off we go.

We have sooooo much fun. We usually split up with our lists and sale papers and set out to conquer the stores. I get lucky because I get Target and this Target has a Starbucks in it so I get to have my Pumpkin Spice Latte after my shopping is done. OOO LAA LAA

This year was no exception to the fun and bargains. We all had a blast. Yes, I lost some sleep, but boy it was worth it. Family....shopping...Starbucks...Memories!!!!!!!!!!

White Lights

While I was at Goodwill the other day for 1/2 price shopping, I found a perfect size tree that would fit just right in my foyer. While I was debating on whether to get it or not, Beth suggested that I get it and it be my tree and that I could put on it whatever I wanted.

Here's the story...since we had children, we have always had a "fun" Christmas tree with all colored lights. My kids informed me a long time ago that white lights were not an option as long as they were home. So that was that. We have had colored lights ever since and that has been really just fine with me because Christmas is about my children.

Well, this year I will actually get to have clear lights again. And this tree is mine all mine. Do I sound selfish? I don't mean to. I just love that I got to decorate it just like I wanted. Guess what I decided on? No, it's really not fancy shmancy. It's not decorated with ribbons and bows. It is decorated with my favorite thing; snowmen. I even found the most wonderful tree topper at Hobby Lobby that another blog friend had bought. It is a snowman hat tree topper and can I just tell you that I adore it. I don't know why it brings me so much pleasure to look at it, it just does. This tree is just one of those things that makes me happy to look at. It really doesn't take much, friends, to make me happy.

I am going to show you my Goodwill snowman tree and Beth and Faith's trees also. Keith did let me put a tree in his room, but I had to decorate it and there is not a lot to it, so I guess I will skip his. We also have a tree in our play/school room. The girls love to set it up and decorate it usually in early November. I also have a sweet little tree on a cafe table in my living room. I love it because it's kind of burlappy, rustic. It makes me smile too with all it's simplicity. Outside of the kids rooms, we have decorated a small tree that we wanted to look like colorful candy and then I can't forget Chloe's little tree. (remember Chloe, pink and furry) As for our family tree, well, that will be put up right after Thanksgiving. That is the only Christmas decorating left. We have done everything else but decided to wait on that. So, I will show that one later.

Hope you all enjoy taking a quick look at some of our Christmas goodies. I sure wish that each one of you who are reading this could just drop by for a real visit and have some cookies and cocoa with us. Wouldn't that be fun?

See my wonderful Snowman hat topper. I love this!!

Love me some snowmen. They make me smile. Have I already said that?

This is my other little tree I got at Goodwill. Love the burlap bottom and the rustic look.

Okay, yet another Goodwill tree. This one was pre-lit, which I loved. I had to take the photo from the back because I couldn't get a front picture unless I hung from the ceiling or took it from the bottom of the stairs and then the railing was in the way. Anyway...enough about that.

This is Beth's pretty Christmas tree. She loves to decorate her bedroom. See the white artwork above the tree, she put that together. Most of that stuff came from the Dollar Tree. Can you tell that we like bargain shopping?

This is Faithy's tree. What fun she has getting it all set up and getting all of her other stuff all put out.

This would be Chloe's tree and all of her Christmasy friends.

And, lastly, this is the tree that the girls put up in the play/school room. It's lots of fun doing school work in here with all the Christmas decorations up.

One more tree left, but that will be later after we get it up. That tree is for the whole family to do. And the star we put on top is the star that Donnie and I bought and used our very first Christmas almost twenty years ago. As for the ornaments, I think I could tell you a story about everyone that will go on it. They all have a special memory or story behind them. We also have ornaments that we buy every year for our baby that is in heaven. These are very special in memory of ornaments that we love to buy. Can't wait to put up that tree as that will hold all of our presents.

Sorry for how long I went on tonight, but it was fun sharing these photos with you. Hope you find a little pleasure in looking at them. I will love looking back years from now and seeing all of these special little trees.