My Christmas Tree and I Are Not On Speaking Terms

I love that it is December already, but I just can't believe how fast this year has passed.

Isn't that what we say every year about this time?

My girls love all of the Christmas decor, and so far I have only superglued 7 figurines and ornaments. So, all in all, much better than last year :).

I went out on a limb and ordered Christmas cards this year! Yes!

or NO?

I was seriously counting down the days until they arrived. As soon as I opened the package and read through the card, I just knew I couldn't send them.

The layout looked great, the pictures looked great.

But in one small spot, where I wrote our personal Christmas greeting, the font was so small I could barely read what it said! Can you believe that?? Good thing I got a good deal on them!

So, if you were on my Christmas card list, and you probably were, just know that I would never send you a card that you had to read with a magnifying glass.

It is one of my personal convictions.

As if the Christmas card kerfuffle wasn't enough, my Christmas tree has decided to wage war against me.

And, ladies and gentleman, I don't go down easily without a fight.

This particular tree was once owned by my in-laws and given to us a couple of years ago (for which I am thankful. Truly.) and I am sure that at one point it had lights that worked. Each year a different strand of lights decides to stop working, thus giving me the pleasure of climbing around inside the 10 foot monstrosity in order to locate the corresponding plug. I have had to re-light the entire tree with approximately 25 separate strands of lights.

Some of the battle was of my own making, I must admit. We only have this one tree up this year, as we have no room for any other trees, and all of our special ornaments are on this tree.

My original thought was to decorate it with a "silver/white" theme, which, in theory, sounds lovely and enchanting.

But in practicality, after I had decorated it up with all the silver and white I could locate,

I stepped back only to find that my tree looked just like a giant, leafy green bride on her wedding day.

THAT WAS NOT WHAT I WAS GOING FOR.

(I so wish I had taken a picture of the gargantuan Christmas bride for you to laugh at me about. I really do.)

So, I changed tactics and went for a browns/neutrals/earthy tones theme, and I am enjoying it much better. 

But next year---this tree is on the curb. (But SHHHHH. Don't say anything. I'm afraid in its vindictiveness the few remaining lights will myseriously shut down and the tree will de-ornament itself.

You don't know this tree.

It is capable of all manner of wickedness.) 

Speaking of wickedness--wicked awesomeness, that is,

I spent most of the day today baking the Pioneer Woman's cinnamon rolls for Christmas. It has become a tradition for me, and I LOVE it.

It just for real takes a lot of work.

But don't they just smell heavenly??

 

I had some help, of course.

Probably a little too much help.

Though when it came to the cleaning up, my two little "helpers" were no where to be found.

We also had the first snowfall of the season tonight. It wasn't much of a snowfall, but the girls were dying to put on boots and gloves and hats and run outside.

The frivolity was short-lived, however, since Audrey Kate ran straight for the road, following her sister.

Ahh well.

Time to cozy up inside, anyway.  There's a pan of freshly baked cinnamon rolls calling my name.

And a vengeful Christmas tree to gaze upon.

Really, could it get any better?