I don't know about you. But, I love decorating for Christmas! I love decorating for Christmas so much that I leave them up until the next holiday- Valentine's Day.
I remember our very first Christmas as a young married couple.
We were major ballers on a budget......MAJAH! We had been saving up for a Christmas tree and finally had $25 to go and buy a small real tree.
On our way to the local grocery store to pick out our tree, we passed by Casa Ole'. Jason and I had a thing for Casa Ole'. We didn't get to go out much in those days. It was a real treat to us.
I spat out,"You know. I don't think anyone but us will see our Christmas tree. We don't have anything to put on our tree either. I guess I need to get ornaments too. That will end up being way more money than what we were planning," as we passed by Casa Ole'. I had Casa Ole' on the mind. I was thinking real straight.
"Yep. You're right. I'm hungry," Jason said back to me. He was picking up what I was putting down.
"Me too."
"Want to eat at Casa Ole' instead?" Jason spoke these words of genius to me. Pure genius, I tell ya! I was wanting so badly to be the cute wife on our first Christmas and have our home decorated. But, my love for food got the best of me. Good thing my husband was thinking straight too!
"Sure." I said back to him. Who needed a tree that wasn't even going to be seen? We were spending Christmas with our families away from our tiny little apartment.
Needless to say, our first Christmas together we did NOT have a tree.
I've never regretted that decision not once. When you are on a budget, you know what your priorities are. And green sauce was definitely a priority. We probably even had queso and sweet tea that night with $25 in our pocket.
............Pause..............
I had a slight pause in writing this post. Jason and I attempted to take a few photos of the girls for the ole' Christmas card that I feel obligated to send out every year. It was awful. I'm totally stressing. Christmas photos are pretty much awful for our family every year. Almost 2 year olds and photos don't really go well together. More on this later. Just know- it was bad. Really bad.
Back to Christmas and lovely things. Ahhhhh, that's much better. I realize this post is all over the page. But, stay with me.
I'm going to be quiet now and just post some photos.
Our new family ornament this year....hee, hee!
I let the girls pick out ornaments for the tree every year. This was something my family did when I was growing up. Since Laney Rae doesn't have an opinion this year, I chose this one for her. She is so joyful.....unless you are taking Christmas photos of her.
The table centerpiece
This is the girl's Christmas tree. Kaylyn chose to go pink this year. Theirs from last year broke so we needed a new one.
This is the ornament Kaylyn chose all by herself.
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13 comments:
oh my. please come decorate my home. yours is adorable and mine is hideous. please. i want to take a day off of school and go shopping with you. when is round top? invite me. pleeeease!
seriously, so cute!
Wow, Lynsey! Can you come decorate my house, too? Your tree is beautiful!
job well done lynsey..your CHRISTmas tree and all the decorations look great...i love kaylyn's ornament...my favorite kind...nativity...yes,what a "joy" laney rae is too us all..sorry about your CHRISTmas pics..i'm hoping for something to be snapped at CHRISTmas of my bunch and sending out new year's cards..love to all...grandma (mom)
Lynsey, your home looks beautiful! I loved the story about y'all's first Christmas...sounds like you made a good decision! I remember our first tree...it was like the Charlie Brown Christmas tree...we even put this ugly green rag angel on the tree as an ornament to help cover up a huge hole in the tree...it was pretty funny looking, but the only tree we could afford! Good memories!
I love reading your blog. It's a bright spot in my day!
As always your house looks warm, cozy and beautiful!! How sweet is KK's ornament... doesn't that just make your heart smile! Love you!
Tia
Lynsey,
I don't think you should worry about celebrating Christmas too long. I think our culture has really turned Christmas upside down. The celebrations and feasting now seem to end on Christmas day. When historically that wasn't so. Here's a quote about how my church, the Catholic Church is "supposed" to be celebrating it: "The Church primarily celebrates Christmas from Christmas Day until the Solemnity of the Epiphany, which commemorates the manifestation of Christ as the Savior of the whole world (cf. Mt. 2:1-12). The Church has also traditionally celebrated Christmas for 40 days, culminating on the Feast of the Presentation (Feb. 2). During this time, the birth of Christ is celebrated as one continuous festival. It is just as important to celebrate during the Christmas season as it is to prepare for Christ during Advent."
I think it's hard for us to imagine a celebration and feasting as people did in a day when they were more connected to the land and to their food! Now we base things on if we get paid leave from work. :-)
God Bless,
steven
Oohs and Ahhs coming from my direction. You've done such a lovely job decorating your home. Just gorgeous!
I got a huge kick out of your first Christmas tree story. I think that memory is so much better than if you had actually gotten a tree. FWIW, I would have gone for dinner out, too, and I'm positive my dh would have. :)
You always put a smile on my face. Thanks for sharing!
My sweet talented friend! I wish I had a home that looked like that! Isn't Christmas time wonderful? Love the picture of Laney Rae. That girl is a hoot. Can't wait to see you guys again.
Good point Steven!
I, too, think that Christmas happens as a whole in our society way too quickly and crazily.
A lot of folks I know are starting off their Christmas season by celebrating Advent. I think that next year, we will probably incorporate this into our Christmas traditions......and still leave the tree up until Feb.14th:).
Thanks for sharing!
And thanks for all of your seriously sweet comments everyone!
Lyns
Can you fly to Ohio to decorate my house? I LOVE your tree. I've always wanted a tree with the rafia, pine cones, bows and berries - but then I cannot bear to not put up the ornaments Todd and I have had since we were kids, or the kids' ornaments. Maybe next year I will just break down and do 2 trees! Have a good holidays!
Kris
Such beautiful decor!
And I'm a big fan of Casa Ole too. When I was in highschool, my mom would take me there after school because it was where I seemed to "open up" over beans, rice, and taquitos. Did you know Casa Ole is a Texas thing? Last time I checked, there were only TWO outside of Texas (which are in Louisiana- I was so glad to see them when I moved there).
Now that we live in Houston area again, I have a million mexican restaurants to choose from and haven't been back to Casa Ole.
Look at me... rambling over Casa Ole! :)
I LOVE IT...i love that chalkboard arrow behind your desk...everything looks so cozy.
cant believe yall like casa ole..we love it..we have to meet there after church..we thought we were the only ones who like it..everyone else we knows turns up their noses at the Casa! lol!
My wife and I did have a tree our first christmas together. It will always be remembered as the Hanukah(spelling??) tree. We didn't even notice it until after christmas when a friend of mine called it that because it was all blue and silver decorations and very hanukahish. Good memories of my first apartment and our first christmas together. Wish you guys the best!! We'd love to figure out a time to have you down to our house for dinner or something fun. Bless ya!
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