Big Fat Christmas Post

Well Christmas certainly is a little different with an 18-month old. Owen was definitely more into the holiday this year, but still didn't really get the whole concept. He loved the gifts, and the tree, and of course the food. We loved watching him enjoy it all.

We started our Christmas quest looking for a good tree to put in the house. Owen got to work crusing down the aisles of trees and falling in the mud.
We got a very nice tree and put it up in the house, not knowing how he would react to it. He loved the ornaments and thought they were great little toys. We tried to put soft things or musical ornaments near the bottom where he could play with them and it wasn't a big deal.
And play with them he did. About a week after the tree went up, the bottom of it is pretty much stripped bare. The ornaments were taken off and he decided that the bead garland would make a nice scarf. He wrapped it around his neck and took off into the kitchen, almost toppling the tree and choking himself in the same action. Life with a toddler...
Needless to say I did not put up my fancy blue and silver glass ornament tree this year.

We had plans to go to Horseheads for Christmas weekend, but wanted to give Owen his big gift in Buffalo where it could be fully assembled. He got a train table complete with wooden train set. (yes the same train set as our famous Black Friday abomination)
We set it up a few days before Christmas so Owen could play with it for a little bit before getting all his other gifts.
I think Dad is having as much fun with it as Owen is...

We headed to Horseheads for the Christmas holidays. I was a big slacker and didn't get a picture of Owen in his handsome man outfit for Christmas Eve mass, but I will get some before he grows out of it. After church and pizza at my parents' house we got our milk and cookies out for Santa.
And had a few cookies ourselves...
Seriously this kid turned into a cookie monster this Christmas. He had them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everywhere in between. He would scream "Kook Kook" until a willing grandparent gave him theirs.

Christmas morning was the usual chaos, but instead of being infatuated with the wrapping paper and boxes like last year, this year it was all about the toys. Look at the frantic motion blur on this pic...
We all made out like bandits as usual. Owen got lots of new toys, trucks, clothes, and goodies. I got my Keurig coffee maker, Shark steam mop, and a new bag. Dennis got a new TV, some train stuff, and a nice wool sweater from Ireland.

We finished opening at Dennis's, then went to his Gram's for dinner, then went to my Mom's for dinner and more fun.
and some peek a boo with Aunt Sara
and more gift opening

It really is fun watching your child enjoying Christmas like we used to when we were kids. It makes me feel like a kid again too.

Cookie Monster

MMMM baking day. I didn't get to eat any of these cookies last year because I was too little. No fair!

Look Mom, they are right there and I will climb up on this chair and throw a tantrum until you give me another one (even though I had my fair share already today)


I know, do something cute until she reaches for that camera and is distracted and then...victory is mine!

The Edwards Tree Saga

Everyone has that great holiday story from their family that they talk about for years. My family has a clear winner in this category, and that is the Christmas tree story. I was at work the other day and we were having the whole real tree vs. fake tree debate with the patients, and I had a whole new group to tell this story to. I forgot how great it is, and figured I would share it with our blog readers (or at least those of you who haven't heard of it!)

When we were kids, we always picked out a great real Christmas tree. My mother especially loved the smell of fresh pine and the great hunt of finding that perfect tree. Well one year when I was probably about 14 years old me and my sisters went with dad to find the tree. Mom was busy with shopping or something so she didn't go that year. We left the house promising to find her the perfect tree. Unfortunately, that day looked something like this...
We took the good old Dodge caravan out in the snow to find the perfect tree. I believe we went to 3 different tree stands and they had the worst selection ever. We were not pleased with any of the trees, and went to leave the last tree farm and got completely stuck in the snow. We had some help from the people at the stand to push the van out, went about 10 feet only to get stuck again. Now my dad would not let any of us girls get out of the car to help, so more volunteers helped him out as he was stifling back swear words.
We get un-stuck again and head back on the road. It was about at this point that my dad totally lost his cool. I can't say I blame him though. He screams "That's it...we're going to Sears and getting a fake tree and I don't care if you guys don't agree and your mother will have to deal with it!" We slowly nod in the backseat, knowing not to test his decision.

We arrive at the good old Arnot Mall and pick out the best looking fake tree money can buy. My dad seems pleased with his find but then regret and fear start to seep it. All of a sudden he's like, "alright girls, go find some pine scented candles and air freshener. We are not going to tell your mom about the fake tree."


We swiftly went home, set up the tree and hid the box in the basement before Mom got home from shopping. We also sprayed massive amounts of pine air freshener all over it. She walked in the door and praised our beautiful tree.

We got through the first 3 years of this routine without a hitch. We would always set up and take down the tree while Mom wasn't home. The funniest part was that Mom would always say how much better our pick was than the previous year.

The fourth year was the final year of our charade. Mom kept feeling the tree "needles" and saying how dry they were. We were of course cracking up whenever she would say this. She decided that the tree needed more water. Previously, one of us would always pretend to water the tree by running the sink and bringing out an empty cup to "water" the tree. As we got older, we weren't home as much and Mom decided to take matters into her own hands. She kept putting water into the base and subsequently watered the carpet quite thoroughly.

Finally, we called a family meeting and had to tell Mom the news: we had been living a lie and the tree was an imposter. She didn't believe us, but we showed her the evidence; the big cardboard box, the plastic trunk, and most of all, the lack of fresh pine scent. Her feelings were a little hurt at first, but eventually she saw the humor in the whole situation. To this day, she will still joke and say the tree needs to be watered.
The tree has lasted for years, and is as lovely as ever. Here's your grandchild pointing to it Mom!
If you're still reading, thanks! Reminiscing about old family Christmas stories is a lot of fun.