Tree Trimming

We trimmed our tree the same night that we celebrated Bop's birthday. As we do each year, we baked cookies and scalded our tongues drinking too hot chocolate. Log had to change into his footie pajamas before hanging any ornaments. Littlest carefully unwrapped each ornament and gently placed them on the tree. Bop was more interested in hearing the stories behind some of her favorite ornaments (the Belle dress from the show Beauty and the Beast which we took her to see in NY when she was six). Log also plucked his favorite ornaments (mostly crosses and ornaments we've bought at cathedrals throughout Europe) and hung them on the small tree in his room.

Our tree was somewhat fuller than usual this year; we were careful to sweep the lot for robust looking trees. Not having ceilings that are nearly 20 feet tall in our new home, the kiddos thought our tree looked slightly stunted. Maybe that's the key; sacrifice height for fullness where German trees are concerned.

In Germany, trees aren't usually erected and decorated until Christmas Eve, and even then it's usually the mother that decorates the tree. Presents are also opened on Christmas Eve with Christmas Day reserved for reverence. Trees aren't usually dismantled until the 6th of January, twelfth night. Many cities schedule pick up dates for trees and reserve them for the Easter bonfires. Having decorated ours so early in the month, I'm sure it'll be a bona fide fire hazard by the sixth. We'll see.

Decorating in progress!

Our lights always seem to be tangled; luckily our elf is happy to oblige.

Footie jammies are a must.

Our kiddos always opt for colored lights.  Playing with bokeh photography per my friend Becky.