Frontier Dreams: The Year Without a Christmas Tree

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

The Year Without a Christmas Tree

C wanted this costume for years - Nana and Grandpa made her day!

C's Christmas hedgehog

A new sweater for C's Phoebe for Christmas

Hello, hello! I feel like I have been pretty absent here these last weeks of Advent. I hope you are enjoying this Christmas season so far. I honestly can't believe it is already the fourth day! This year my children are truly reminding me of the meaning of Christmas. Remember my mention of Kevin being away for a few weeks? Well, that time away was extended and he didn't end up getting back home to us until last Thursday. Talk about a mad scramble to get everything ready before Sunday!

Every year we try to wait as long as possible to get our Christmas tree. This year the wait was a bit longer because we wanted to pick it out with Daddy. There are only two places to get them locally so we essentially play a game of "tree chicken" trying not to wait too long to get one or else they may all be gone. Well, this year we lost. Not only were they sold out locally but in Boise as well. I was fretting just a bit, wanting this Christmas to be perfect since it will be our last one here. Ridiculously allowing myself to be consumed with self-pity I mumbled something under my breath about having no tree. Little L somehow heard me, looked deeply into my eyes and said, "Mama, we don't need a tree for it to be Christmas." The pure innocence, wisdom and love in his words just made me melt. He was right. The next day K took her personal mini tree from her room and placed it in our front room where we would normally keep our tree. We decided that would be just the perfect thing. Little L topped it with his "Happy Birthday Jesus" star he made in RE class, reminding us what Christmas is all about.

p.s. - Our cat, on the other hand, is not too happy about our lack of a Christmas tree this year. She loves spending all her time sleeping under the tree. The little one just isn't cutting it for her, but as you can see in the photo she is trying her best to make do!

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Bird Girl · 465 weeks ago

That is a beautiful tree! The kids will remember Daddy being home much more than any decoration, of course.

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cariemay 52p · 465 weeks ago

Wise words indeed! And I sympathise with wanting Christmas to be perfect; it's our last Christmas in this house too and I've wanted everything to be perfect for that one last memory. It hasn't of course but perhaps perfect in a very human way!

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Shelley · 465 weeks ago

Beautiful Christmas Tree...beautiful family.....blessings

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Ariana W · 465 weeks ago

Oh children are so sweet. They always find joy in the simplest things. It's often me that's not happy when things are simple so I am constantly trying to remember this so I don't ruin their joy! I love your comments about the cat though...too funny. Love how she's trying to make the best of it! I must have missed the post that you are moving. Are you changing houses or moving locations?

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amothershares 33p · 465 weeks ago

Lovely photos and your son is right, Christmas is special because it's Christmas and the tree is just a lovely addition, if you can get one! Your little one looks very festive ;-) I love the hedgehog and the sweater for the Phoebe mousel - I am just starting a couple for our Phoebes too as it's a bit too cold for summer dresses my daughters have advised me!! Where did you get those pyjamas K is wearing? They are lovely. They all are! My eldest daughter is 10 and this is the last year that she can get pretty organic pyjamas here in the UK in her size as far as I can see. The clothes all go very boring after a certain age. Sob! We are going to the States next summer for a month, so I was thinking maybe I could get some when we are there if you could let me know the brand? Thanks. Enjoy the rest of the days of Christmas.

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1 reply · active 465 weeks ago

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FrontierDreams 111p · 465 weeks ago

K's organic pjs are from Hanna Andersson :) We love their pj line. The white pair of pjs that baby F was wearing in some of the photos were gently used by another family and then passed down from K to C to L and then to him.
And I so hear you on the boring clothes. It is getting harder and harder to find fun things for K :(

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Jessica · 465 weeks ago

We never have a tree... I'm allergic, and when we tried borrowing a fake one, it was just repeatedly knocked over. :)

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Kim · 465 weeks ago

What a lovely Christmas! Two questions. Where did u get boys' pjs and hedgehog mittens? Thanks

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1 reply · active 465 weeks ago

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FrontierDreams 111p · 465 weeks ago

the pjs are from Hanna Andersson. We love them! The mittens were a gift from a friend but I am thinking she got them on Amazon. hth!

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Amy Caroline · 465 weeks ago

What a beautiful Christmas. I think we moms worry so much about making things perfect and the kids don't expect perfection. It always works out somehow, doesn't it?

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