Imperfect Perfection

Every year, I have grand plans for Christmas. Or Christmas decor at least. I imagine I'll have a "theme" or I'll pick certain colors. I imagine I'll do an advent wreath or calendar. I'll have beautifully wrapped, homemade gifts. There will be decorated cookies and delicious smells coming from the kitchen. We'll read about Jesus birth and do family devotionals!

Then I wake up and realize it's December 10th and Christmas is a mere 14 days away. I also remember I have a three year old and a one year old. A husband who just started a new job. And we all have colds. Hmmm...

This Thursday night starts like any other one - with two tired parents. Two sick babies and one sick Mommy, make for a long day. But by evening, we look like we're all on the mend. This Thursday is different from other Thursdays because it's that time of year and the Zavala's don't have their tree up yet, the idea of still not having it up by the second weekend in December seems just, well wrong. It also doesn't fall into my plan of perfection.

Yet, somehow the task of digging out bins and boxes from the garage, sorting through tree limbs, and testing lights don't bring on that warm and fuzzy feeling. I know, what a scrooge right! :P


But it's not that easy. First, we must decide where the tree is going. We've amassed considerable more furniture and toys than previous years. We settle on moving the kids toy shelves/bins and putting the tree in it's usual spot - front and center in our living room. Then we argue - er I mean discuss - about where to relocate the kids stuff.

To get us all in the mood, I throw on How the Grinch Stole Christmas - the classic version of course! This is the first year Hayden has really been old enough to "get" Christmas in any kind of way. And it's the first year he's helped put up the tree. He actually was a very good helper, handing Daddy the branches - with some slight correction of course "No Hayden, not that pile, the other pile". I mean he got to help Daddy AND stand on a "ladder" - what could be better, right?


Corbin was "helping" too. By staying off the ladders and enthralled with the Grinch!



Of course, just those tasks alone (mixed in with the craziness of two little ones, insert lots of "No no"s and pulling kids off ladders and away from electrical sockets) took us most of the night. It was already 8pm before we even started pulling out the lights! And, as usual, most of the light strands weren't working! What is it with lights these days, they don't last more than one season for some reason (hehe that rhymed, ok I digress). Only one strand was even "sort of" working. But Hayden loved it so much he put it on the tree anyway.

And here is our tree (for now anyway), with one defunct light strand and no ornaments. And Hayden thinks it's the best tree in the world! His words were: "It's perfect."