I spend a lot of time resting/laying on the couch, and Annie has been snuggling up with me a lot lately. She’s always full of questions and lately they’ve all been about Christmas. We were looking at some pictures of Christmas from last year when she said, “Look! There’s my baby tree! When are we getting another baby tree?!” I had completely forgotten about getting her a small tree. So much for the traditions I’d started last year! But Annie, that kid forgets nothing.
I honestly wasn’t sure when I’d be up for all the rigamarole involved in getting a real tree, but I promised Annie we’d make sure it happened soon. I had to do it in little bits. First I asked her how she wanted to decorate her tree. “It will be a princess tree!!!! And I will hang princesses on it!!!” What a shock. A few days later, we took her to Target to get some decorations. I told her she could pick out one tree star and three ornaments. She chose a big ornament that said, “Princess” on it (I swear she can read that word and that word only), a Princess Tiana figurine, and a pack of five Grinch ornaments. Since the Grinch ornaments were in a package she got me on a technicality. Good work, Annabel.
Finally, after enduring nonstop “When are we getting the tree? When are we getting the tree?” we went to the lot yesterday to pick one out.
I want to get a tree that’s real high!
She marched around, determined to find the perfect princess tree.
When she found the one she wanted, she could not be swayed. Luckily its big bald spot in the back meant it was cheap!
After we got it set up at home, we put on our Christmas pajamas (or put them back on, in my case) and got to decorating.
Putting the star on the tree
Carefully choosing her ornaments.
SO proud of her Tiana ornament.
She was sort of into hanging ornaments herself, but extremely into telling Mike exactly where to hang them.
Once she’d hung up all the new ornaments and old snowflakes, I surprised her with some princess ornaments I’d made out of clip art and thick paper.
She was very excited about those ornaments, which made me happy because they were free and are unbreakable!
The finished tree could not be more “Annabel” if it tried.
This weird smile of hers kills me.
She sat or danced by the tree all evening, until it was time to go to bed. As she headed to her room she said, “Goodnight Princess Tree! See you in the morning! I love you!”
I’m so glad she remembered that we owed her a tree.
Annalisa says:
I used to do a weird faces too, as a kid. My “picture smile” involved showing all my teeth. All of them. It was a parody of a smile, almost monkey-like. I ruined some family portraits that way.
I can’t vouch for why Annabel is doing her weird smile (it looks like an “Awwww!” face rather than just a smiley one to me), but I can tell you that as a little kid, I used to believe that you always had to smile when people took pictures of you, and that it wasn’t a real smile if you couldn’t see teeth. Why that last part, I haven’t the faintest.
Jenn says:
Aaawwe – I adore her!!! That huge, wide opened mouth grin reminds me of when Maddie use to smile like that.
Hope you’re feeling better soon!!! xo
Amanda says:
Annie’s weird smile makes me literally laugh out loud every time I see it! It’s like she’s too excited to form her mouth into an ‘acceptable’ smile and just has to go with whatever happens! Did you ever see that episode of Friends where Chandler and Monica get their photos done? Totally reminds me of Annie now!
Connie says:
That is an awesome princess tree. Kids remember everything, don’t they? My neices and nephews, when they were little like Annie, would say “remember you said you would do (insert whatever I said weeks/months ago)”. She is just too cute for words. You guys are awesome parents.
shan says:
That tree is really really cute!!! What a great idea Heather and Annie!!
Auntie_M says:
What a great tradition & beautiful princess tree! (And I love Annie’s nails!)
Tia says:
That is so awesome! It makes me want a princess tree!
Karen says:
Heather, you look beautiful.
Amy says:
God, she is cute! What a wonderful tradition! Nate hung all the ornaments in one big clump, like they were a cluster of grapes. This age is so much fun for Christmas!
Heather says:
haha that’s what she did on our big tree! We managed to spread her out a little on this one.
Lauriesl says:
You are seriously the best Mom and Dad ever! Great job with the tree, homemade ornaments and the great pictures!
MG says:
Too cute! Whatever you do DO NOT start Elf on the Shelf…now THAT is a tradition that I wished I had never started!! BTW, any post that uses “rigamarole” is my fav!
Heather says:
oh, we do Elf on the Shelf. She loves looking for her elf “Georgie” every morning!
MG says:
Glad you’re still enjoying it! My kids do too…when he remembers to move! Which is most of the time but I’m having to constantly “take the blame” for accidentally touching him. My 4 yr old son has said he “doesn’t trust the elf or trust daddy for touching him” Funny kid. I blew it a little this year, my 9 yr old (is that old to believe?) saw me running outside after I left him at our front door. I told him the truth because I thought he was old enough but then he said he wanted to believe so I totally made up a pretty believable story…geesh, now I’m a huge liar too! Have fun!
Heather says:
Oh, I love that he wants to believe! I set a daily alarm, otherwise we would NEVER remember to move the elf.
MG says:
What a great idea! I should do that too.
Miriam says:
So adorable and I love it when you braid her hair.
I hope you are feeling better.
KeraLinnea says:
I love her braids!
We have those same snowflake ornaments. They’re my favorite.
Holly says:
Our daughter is the same age…we are totally starting this tradition and I’m stealing your idea of making the princess ornamnets with clipart. Love it!! You guys are so fun!
Heather says:
YAY fun! I went to http://disney-clipart.com/ and found tons of Princess clip art. They even have special holiday versions of the princesses!
Leslie says:
We have the same star on top of our tree, but ours is silver. It’s really pretty, but gets glitter everywhere! I love your clip art ornaments…why didn’t I think of that?! Austin would love Cars characters. Love you.
Heather says:
The glitter is a damn nightmare. And you have me to think of these things for you, Duckey. Go to http://disney-clipart.com/ – they have Cars stuff in the right-hand column. Then I just used a needle and thread to make a hanger. Easy easy.
Chris says:
What we use for hangers, when we lose the original, is an opened paper clip. Works like a charm.
Kristin R. says:
Such a sweet tradition. And if you find she “needs” more princesses — check the gift wrap section of Target. Sometimes you can find paper gift tags with ribbon/string, if you loop the ribbon right you can hang on the tree.
Heather says:
Great idea!!! She informed me this morning that Santa was going to bring her more princess ornaments, so I think I might have to go to Target!
Barb in Michigan says:
Have to LOVE that girl!
Dina says:
So cute and what a great tradition! I have a request: can you please do a hair braiding tutorial for the totally braid-challenged. I love the braids Annie has in the pictures. I can only do the most basic braids and my 4-yr old sometimes comes from preschool with fancy braids that I can only undo, but have no clue how they came to be… Thanks!
Heather says:
Sure! I will get Mike to film it next time I braid her hair.
Liz says:
What cute pajamas!
MichelleM says:
How precious! You guys are amazing parents! We have a 3-yr-old daughter and there is nothing better in life than doing things that give them joy. Annie has it written all over her face how much fun she’s having! I love re-experiencing the magic of Christmas through a child’s eyes.
Laura P says:
Love this post! Her tree is so super cute, as is she! Love your clip art ornaments- genius way to make a toddler happy!