Just Call Me Scrooge

Last year around this time I read a blog post by my friend, Kelly, talking about how she wasn't putting up a Christmas tree because of the havoc her almost-one-year-old would surely wreak on it. At the time, I was a new mother with an immobile one-month-old and stars in my eyes. I balked at the idea of this and condemned her as a Scrooge in my head. But Christmas is for children! How can she deprive her child of the magic of a Christmas tree? (I know, I know, the truth comes out. Sorry, Kelly!)

Well, guess who's the Scrooge this year? This Christmas, as the realistic mother of a crazy curious one-year-old I now totally understand Kelly's reasoning. That's not to say I don't beat myself up a little about it but I'd sooner deal with a little guilt than have to tell Wilder 15,693 times a day to stop touching, pulling, eating, shaking, and/or climbing the Christmas tree. Plus, we're not even going to be in town for Christmas so that sealed the deal for me. Call me Scrooge if you must, but Christmas 2011 will go in the books as "the one where we didn't have a Christmas tree." I did put lights and some wooden snowflakes around the window where the tree would be in an attempt to simulate a merry glow (and dangit if those lights aren't hard enough to keep Wilder away from, further validating my tree-free decision).

"Festive" or "Tacky"? You decide.

I'll also accept "Festively Tacky." 

Speaking of Scrooge, I am happy to report that whatever demon got a hold of Wilder yesterday vacated the premises by this morning. Although no day is complete without a couple of tantrums lately, they thankfully did not occur at ten minute intervals like yesterday. 

Happy

Silly

And sweet :)

Oh, and I made chicken and dumplings for dinner and it was so delicious (and easy)! I'll post the recipe in the next few days. Hope all of you had a good start to your week!