Guilt-driven Christmas

♫Christmas Time is Here....♪ ...finally. Our house is only now getting a little Christmas on. And, when I say little, I mean little.

Flashback to Thanksgiving. One of our girls randomly blurted, "Who does not want to put up a tree this year?!" Hands flew in the air. Admittedly, mine was one of them. Shouts of joy could be heard throughout the county...screech!...well, at least in my head there was a party going on! All I could think about was no climbing the stairs to the creepy attic where the decorations and tree is stored. No mess to make, no mess to clean up. Nothing to take down after Christmas. Yes, I admit, a major happy dance.

Now, before you judge me, Christmas is so much more than trees and decorations. It's about Christ. Remembering His birth, and what that means. He didn't have a Christmas tree. No wreath on the door. We, as a people, tend to get caught up in all the hub-bub of Christmas. Busyness instead of reflection take over.

Okay, now that we have that settled....

Guilt. That ugly mom guilt. We have a 14 year old boy. Yes, he is old enough to go without decorations and a tree. But, in years to come, I don't want him doing something so wrong he ends up on the national news. And, as the reporters dig to find out his "back story", it turns out he did what he did because when he was 14 years old his family did not care enough to put up a Christmas tree and decorate the house!!!!! I can see the therapy bills already accumulating! Welcome to how my mind works, people.

In all seriousness, my family had a grand laugh over that scenario. The 14 year old boy also promises never to do anything bad enough to get on national news. You heard it hear first, folks!

Without further ado, here are our decorations and pathetic tree.

I made this. Yes, I am crafty at times. I used Publisher and a cool font.
Printed on cardstock, cut out, and strung on string.

Shelf with a very small pre-lit tree and a snowman. Love the look at night.

On the enclosed porch for people to see as they enter.

A very Charlie Brown tree. Very. But it is a tree, people.

Well, that is all folks. Simple. That is the way I like it as I get older.