Whew, I finally got the tree to work with me! We have an “easy” pre-lit tree that decided, this year, not to light. I got it set up and plugged in, and when I turned it on, only half the tree lit. So I spent the last two weeks replacing lights, to no avail. I finally just went out and bought some more strings of lights, and strung them on the tree over those dead ones! So now it’s all pretty and lit up and looking good, even if it probably does qualify as a “Redneck Tree”:
Ignore those wires at the top…. They lead to the candles in the upper windows. I haven’t figured out a way to disguise them.
Anyway, here are my favorite ornaments…
Josh made this one in school last year. The cool thing is, Steve’s parents have a similar one on their tree that he made when he was in kindergarten.
This one actually belongs to Josh. He got it when he was 3, from his Godmom Dina. When you pull or push one of the limbs it makes a silly sound – a bell, a doorbell, a little horn, “jingle bells”… it’s awfully cute, and one of Josh’s favorites, too.
Another of Josh’s. This was made for him by my nephew, James. It’s Bob the Tomato, from Veggie Tales.
The last one of Josh’s (his really are my favorites), this one was delivered over the course of four days last year, by our Elf-in-Residence, Twinkle. Twinkle shows up every year on Dec. 1, and stays with us until Christmas. He leaves a gift each night for Josh, before flying back to the North Pole to report to Santa about Josh’s behavior. Judging by the pile of toys in the corner, Josh apparently has a pretty good record.
These are my last two… I got them from my aunt lots of years ago. They’re pretty long – about six inches – but they’re just cool. Not sure why one of them is a corkscrew, but the other Santa’s beard reminds me of an icicle.
Merry Christmas, everybody!
Us Girls..Our Views 
what the hell is it with the prelit trees this year? I blogged about the same trouble..not once but twice. We were going to take our midget prelit tree and string some lights on it (3 years old) and then my bff piped up and said she was getting rid of her big one cuz she got a new one…so we could have it. JOY.RAPTURE..UNTIL we got it up and a strand was out on it too. I am shittin’ you not. I thought she was punkin’ me so I called her and nope as of last year when she stored it ..all was good. Ok well this one got another strand of lights weaved through it which is a whole nother WTF that goes with that blog post….feel free to go read about that. BAHUMBUG!
Merry Christmas Laura! Thanks for sharing your beautiful tree with us and those special ornaments. They are wonderful. I love the tomato one! Such a good idea! When I did my prelite tree this year I only had to replace a couple of bulbs and mine stays lite if one goes out and I’m VERY thankful for that!
Laura I love your tree…it’s beautiful!!! These ornaments are darling!!!
I had to laugh when you said to ignore those wires!!! LOL I don’t how you would hide them! If they were white it’d be better…still everything is gorgeous!!!! You must explain this whole Twinkle elf and Josh getting a girft everyday???? Why couldn’t you have been my mom!? Oh yea I’m too old! Dang! lol
I actually wrote about Twinkle last year, on my own long-neglected blog.
Pictures and everything!
http://worldturned.blogspot.com/2008/12/little-christmas-magic.html
That is the coolest thing! I can almost see Josh running around hunting for little Twinkle, then the clue and alas a prize!!! Very cool, what a great idea. Did you come up with that???
My mom and dad did the Christmas ribbon with me when I was a kid. I continued that tradition with the addition of Twinkle when he showed up last year.
The poem at the top of the ribbon goes:
“December First to Christmas is the longest time of year,
Seems as though ol’ Santa never will appear.
How many days ’til Christmas? It’s so mighty hard to count,
So this little Christmas Ribbon will tell the exact amount.
Untie a ribbon every night when the Sandman casts his spell,
And Christmas Eve will be here by the time you reach the bell.”
And the ONLY time he’s allowed to ring the bell is right before he goes to sleep on Christmas Eve… it’s what calls the reindeer and brings them and Santa to our house.
I couldn’t find an elf, I mean Santa didn’t send us an elf last year so we have Chris the Mouse who leaves little goodies every freakin night and then he returns to the North Pole with Santa. The kids love it and I must admit it is kind of fun coming up with things!
hey they have the battery operated ones that I got at the hardware store (go figure again right)..anyhow all you do is put the batteries in and flip the switch when you want them to come on. They are then programmed for like 6 hours I think and will come on every night at whatever time you clicked them the first time. The batteries lasted me all winter the last year I put them in all my windows. Much better than cords.
I also love your tree. I knew you should have written about Twinkle. I also love the homemade ornaments that my boys made. I also love those Santa ones. I love long skinny ones. I just got a new one this year that’s very long and narrow. I’ll take a pic of a few I have I guess. I love your tree.
What a pretty tree. Homemade ornaments are the best!
Where did my response go??
I’ll go look. Damn spam folder lately. I don’t know what to do.
I thought, it was there awhile ago! I know it was!
Yup, you got spammed!!!!! I approved it and it’s up there now.