Category Archives: holiday decorations

a tale of three trees

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This week, finally, our Christmas wreath has been taken off the front door. The garland and lights that decked our staircase and fireplace mantle have been removed. The ornaments, stocking, candles, mistletoe and all other Christmas treasures that we have collected over the years have all been carefully packed up and put away. All except for three bare trees. Which brings to mind the question: if a Christmas tree, or two or more stands naked and bare under the Big Top  the end of January will anyone notice?

The answer is no.

Well, at least anyone who lives here under the Big Top won’t notice. At least they have not commented on this. No “gee, it looks so empty and bare without all the Christmas decorations” or “wow, mom, you put away all the Christmas decorations” or even “so when are ‘WE’ going to take down and put away the Christmas trees?” Of course no circus clown of mine would wonder when are “WE” going to take down the Christmas trees because my circus act seems to believe that it is elves and fairies and unicorns who, every December without fail, unpack and put up all the Christmas crazy for this circus’ enjoyment. And then, once the New Year has been rung in, the magical elves and fairies and unicorns come back to carefully pack away all the Christmas crazy.

It’s a wonderful thing really.

Not really.

At least the elves and fairies and unicorns…I…don’t think so.

So three Christmas trees remain here under the Big Top and no one seems to notice nor care. Somehow that seems to make these bare trees look all the more sad to me.

still Christmas

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Today, finally, everyone is back to work and school and I am back to a full juggling schedule and yet Christmas is still here under the Big Top! Well, at least the decor is still here.

Aren’t there supposed to be elves or fairies or unicorns that are supposed to be taking this stuff down and packing it all away for another Christmas season to come? Oh wait. That would be me, myself and I…the same elves and fairies and unicorns who put up all of this Christmas crazy…and to think that I didn’t put it all up because of toddling grandbabies eager to check out old, treasured breakables and the fact that there seemed to be no clowns willing to help out with the holiday trimming of this circus tent. Of course they totally noticed that not all the Christmas crazy was out and on display and they sure did complain comment about it explaining that they didn’t offer to help because they know how much I love doing all the decorating…it must be because I am some kind of Christmas decorating elf, fairy or unicorn.

Yeah.

Um, no.

And so now Christmas still remains here under the Big Top because while the majority of this circus act has enjoyed a great holiday break off from school and extended 4-5 day weekends off for Christmas and New Year’s they certainly couldn’t help take down and pack this stuff away…because that is something the elves and fairies and unicorns do.

Ugh!

I wonder how long I can leave all of this stuff up before someone notices or complains or…dare I dare to dream?…offer to help pack up and put Christmas away.

a few of his favorite things

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And now the countdown begins…

Seriously this is probably the funnest part of the gift giving that goes on here under the Big Top. Don’t get me wrong, I do love the mass chaos that is Christmas morning with all of my circus clowns. But the days leading up to that wonderful morning are much more fun for me.

The waiting and wondering…

Just what could be in all these simply wrapped packages, some which are, indeed, brown paper packages tied up with string?

Well, we will just have to wait and see.

Until Christmas morning…

This week’s Focus 52 prompt is BROWN PAPER PACKAGES

decking in progress

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Busy, busy, busy…who isn’t busy during these last few days before we discover whether the Mayans were correct or celebrate the end of 2012 and the start of 2013?

Everyone is busy.

At least it seems to be that way.

Last week’s Focus 52 prompt was DECK THE HALLS and, well, I am still decking. It’s not like I have a lot of Christmas Crazy to put up…even if I do. It’s just doing it.

The trees are up…that’s a start.

I have so many favorites that are packed away with all the Big Top’s Christmas Crazy and every year the memories, the laughter, the tears, the warm fuzzy glow-y feeling come rushing out…just as the dust does too when I unpack them all. My favorites are all of them because they are so beautifully steeped with so many memories, laughter, tears and warm, fuzzy, glow-y feelings. But if I were to choose my absolute favorite they would have to be the ones that are unpacked and currently decking the halls of the Big Top right now…and quietly mocking the other treasures still wrapped and packed in Rubbermaid boxes sitting in the front room.

And my number one favorite is the one that was not fashioned by hands of someone who might have lived or is living now under the Big Top.

The one made by a traveler nurse I worked with back in 2002 who fell in love with my baby boy and his family.

The one that represents when our family circus was complete…well, until my first born clown grew up up and had some beautiful babies.

All the handmade treasures, the majority made by my own precious circus act, are out and decking our halls and, well, part of me thinks that is more than enough because they are the best of all the Christmas Crazy that we have collected over the years.





The decking remains in progress, still I can’t help but find myself distracted and relaxed as I look at our big tree covered with my kids’ ornament collections and their hand made creations and think to myself that the decking is complete because my family circus is so wonderful, so lucky, so blessed.

I’m seriously going to keep my focus on that truth no matter how crazy, stressed or overwhelmed this Christmas crazy might make me.

Life is so wonderful.

I am so lucky.

We all are so blessed.

holiday runs

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I got me some new kicks. Kind of pretty, aren’t they? They feel pretty good on the runs that I have taken them out on too.

I’m hard on my shoes…really hard. Well, except for those Loubies because I can’t walk very well in those because I am clumsy and awkward. But I do look amazing wearing them and sitting or standing in one place. Actually, I look hot! But yes, I am hard on my shoes. These Mizunos are my 3rd pair of running shoes that I have bought this past year. One pair was trashed and never the same again after that mud run my son in law challenged me to. As for the others, well there are a number of opinions swirling around as to when a runner should replace their shoes. Me, I am a listen to your body while running kind of girl. My shins and knees don’t lie and when I choose to ignore them, or other body parts, I pay for it. So I listen…and I get myself some new, pumped up kicks.

Just in time for the Runner’s World Holiday Run Streak.

Yup!

I’m running that again.

It really is not such a big feat and it really doesn’t take that much time…one mile…less than 11 or 12 minutes. But after last year, I came to discover just how important it proved to be for me. The stress is different this year coupled with anxieties and just the struggle of getting up some days so, again, I need to be running in order to juggle this life under the Big Top. Thank goodness I have something cute (and more than functional) on my feet!

Meanwhile, because it is Christmas time under the Big Top, it is time to deck some halls, which I confess, is kind of hard to get all excited about and motivated to do…except for the fact that Daniel is all over it and so is Hazel…and Fallon, Fallon is just loving the lights and STUFF that she is determined to get at because they are shiny and look fragile and not meant for a one year old. Oh, and Zoë is coming home for a holiday visit. Yes, the Big Top must be decked…no matter how long it takes. So I hauled out the Christmas boxes, set up the trees, hung some stockings and garland after a 4 mile run earlier this week. I figured that I was already hot and sweaty, I may as well get sweatier.. And I did. While stepping back, basking in my sweaty glow of an awesome run and even more awesome sense of accomplishing at least the start of hall decking, I saw in my blog feed what my friend Linda was doing to with her holiday decorating.

I have to admit I have always wanted to do more with all the medals I earned than hanging them on my scarf rack in the closet. Sure, I haven’t ran any races like I did before. I just can’t afford the fees. But I still run, and wear out running shoes. And I remain very proud of every single medal because I earned them all.

And so I hung them all up on the little tree in our family room.

The one that started it all.

The one that fractured my hip.

And the first time after the hip stress fracture.

Another run with Mickey and Friends, which earned not one but two medals.

It felt so good to wear TWO medals after that race!

Soon enough, I was rocking another half marathon.

Then I PR’d…I give some credit to Linda for cheering me on.

And finally, my birthday gift from my son in law where my blinding, white legs really weren’t an issue because they were covered in mud…as was every other part of me.

And here it is, the holiday running tree. It’s a tree decorated with so many memories. It might not be the Christmas-iest of trees here under the Big Top, but it has just as much heart, soul, love, tears and hugs covering it. That is what makes a Christmas tee special here in my circus tent.

This one is done and it sparkles and glows. Tomorrow the rest of my circus will join me in covering the other ones with even more memories and love and heart and soul and hugs.

But first, I will need to run.