Playing in a Winter Wonderland

The time has arrived!  Countless boxes, bags, and containers are carried down from the attic.  Each is unloaded piece by piece, ornament by ornament, light by light, and memory by memory.  The tree is assembled with the same pattern as the year before.  The branches are fluffed and separated with great detail.  The lights are hung on each branch with tender care.  Then each and every precious ornament is hung on the pine branches just so that each can be seen from every angle.  The mantle is cleared, and a long row of garland is hung.  The stockings are placed in perfect order.  3 small trees are placed at the fireplace.  The cute 2 foot snowman sits by the side chair.  The top of the each table, refrigerator, countertop, and shelf is cleared and decorated with small trees and vases with ornaments.  The mums and pumpkins are thrown away and the potted Christmas trees are placed at the front porch.  The front door wreath was hung as well as the large lighted wreath above the garage doors.  Everything was just perfectly 'Christmasly' decorated.

(Well, this was last year!)

Today, all of the above occurred but with some minor alterations.  The tree is in the same place, but all breakable/fragile ornaments are on the top 1/2 of the tree and the non-breakable/cloth/plastic ornaments are on the bottom 1/2.  There are NO decorations on the floor....they are placed high out of a 1 year old's reach.  The decorating took a mere 6 or so hours because everything was timed between 2 naps. 

We can already tell that this Christmas is going to be so much more fun than ever before!  While Ben took his first nap, we put up the tree.  He awoke to very different den than what he saw 1 1/2 hours before.  His blue eyes sparkled as he walked towards the tree.  His little chubby hands touched each light, each ornament as he made his way around the tree.  He played off and on all day with the container of red jingle bells.  And he danced with Santa to "Holly Jolly Christmas".

During the 2nd nap, we finished. 

Seeing Christmas through the eyes of your child may be the most precious thing!
So, we are walking and playing in a winter wonderland.....and it is so much fun!!