Mike laughs at me about all this Christmas stuff, but it is so important to me. Some of my best memories of childhood have Christmas at the center. Everyone would gather at my parents’ house – my grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins. We’d open presents and eat all day and laugh. There was so much laughing…I can still hear it when I close my eyes and listen.
I want this for Annie. I told Mike long before we were even married that one of the things I wanted most in life was a house where I could start Christmas traditions for my family. At almost two, I know Annie is too young to understand exactly what we’re doing or what all of it means, but she is definitely old enough to understand family and laughter and love.
Our Christmas tree is artificial. When I was a teenager, my parents got a fake tree and my brother and I took it personally. They were cutting out one of our favorite traditions – picking out a Christmas tree! Now that I’m an adult I get that an artificial tree is practical for a zillion reasons, and that’s why we have one. But, as we were buying the fake tree I told Mike that every year our kids would still go pick out a tiny, real tree.
Over the weekend we took Annie to a local lot. The air at a Christmas tree lot is special. The chill and the smell of pine transported me back to my childhood. I remembered running amongst the trees, playing hide and seek with my brother.
Annie was more like, “um, there are trees in the Bank of America parking lot…this is weird.” But eventually she was skipping around, pointing at trees.
We got the tree home and set it in our family room. I had some purple lights and a few purple and silver ornaments. Annie has been my shadow lately, so she was excited to help me.
Annie would place the ribbons, and then I’d tie them on the branches.
Then it came time to place the ornaments. I suggested she move around the tree, but she had her own ideas. They all ended up in the same general vicinity. It looks great.
She sat by the tree for an hour, playing with Cinderella figurines, making them dance under the lights.
I sat there watching my little spark, hoping that she would always remember this feeling…
…knowing that I always would.
Kate @ UpsideBackwards says:
Awwwww! This is so lovely
I suspect, however, that each year the tree will have to be a little bigger, so they are always just bit taller than Annie!
A Mom says:
Aaaaaah, this makes my heart so full of love. Thank you for sharing.
Jenn says:
So sweet!!! Love your tree….it’s perfect!!
DefendUSA says:
Very Nice…I have a Christmas Eve baby…we started putting up two trees…I had no idea how important that second tree was until I could not afford it. My son said, “Mom, when are you going to get my Birthday tree?” We used to put his birthday gifts under the “baby” tree and he made the association that it was His birthday tree! Merry Christmas!
Meghan says:
Awwww how precious!! We have an artificial tree and I hate it! Growing up, we always had a real one. It never occurred to me to get a little one for the kids! I think you’ve sparked a new tradition in our house!
Heather McKenna says:
I agree on the real tree feelings! Christmas is not the same without a real tree. Glad you are able to still keep the traditions that are important to you in some ways.
TamaraL says:
Awwww…thank you for making me smile first thing on a Monday morning!
Shan says:
I have the same type of memories..Christmastime growing up was filled with family and merriment. I am trying to do the same for my kids. My husband did not grow up with all the traditions, but he has slowly come around and has gotten into all the kooky traditions we have started around here! Annie is adorable helping decorate the tree..and I love her little outfit!
Savannah says:
Annie has been you’re shadow lately?! Wow! That’s wonderful! When did things change? It must feel wonderful to have her stick close to you as she once did with Mike.
Mary Ann says:
Growing up we always had a real tree. Some of my happiest memories are picking out the tree with my father. After he got sick and passed away we did the fake tree too and that tradtion has stood. My tree is perfect every year but I do miss the experience of picking out the real tree, the scent of pine, and you know what we still have to vaccuum needles with our fake tree once and while. – so maybe I will get “poppy tree” – if I can stop crying long enough to pick one out. I love your idea thanks for sharing it – Merry Christmas!
MissyK says:
What a wonderful idea. Annie looks so sweet helping with the tree. This little tradition will mean the world to her as she grows up.
susanmig says:
okay, we don’t “do” christmas, but i’ve gotta say i just love this post and the annie tree is a wonderful idea that i’m sure will become a permanent spohr family tradition now! i think the tiny, real tree is perfection, too! annie took such care in decorating it and you did a great job in just letting her do her thing.
great post to start the week!
Melli says:
Aww, so sweet
katrina @ They All Call Me Mom says:
So sweet! I love Annie’s little tree!
I have never had an artificial tree. Growing up, we always went out and got a real tree, and the same tradition is now my family’s. I need the Christmas smell. I want the “real” tree. What exactly are the reasons to have a fake tree? Is it because it’s not environmentally correct to cut down trees for our pleasure? But aren’t they planted and grown for that very reasons? Just like flowers are? Should we all stop buying “real” flowers, too? And just get the artificial ones? I don’t get it, but that’s okay. A Christmas tree is a Christmas tree, real or artificial, both kinds are beautiful when it comes to celebrating the season
Heather says:
For me the biggest reasons we went artificial were cost, mess, and my irrational fear that a real tree will spontaneously burst into flames.
Meyli says:
^If I could like your comment, I would! If the tree dries out too much… one spark COULD set it alight! My mom’s terrified we’ll break the lights and thus burn the whole house down.
Meyli says:
Holiday traditions are so important, and its so nice that you’re starting new ones for Annie! My sisters and I always decorate our tree together, we have a whole routine. Since I’ve been in college, timing the decorating is tricky! One year they decorated without me This year, I told my mom we were going to have to wait for an evening when none of us were working, even if it meant only decorating it a few days before Christmas.
Trisha says:
So sweet and such a great idea for us artificial tree users. I think you have inspired me to go get my 3 year old her own little live tree to decorate. Thanks for that!! Felt like we were missing out on the whole lot trip or tree farm day but now I can make it work for us all
Only in Louisiana ~ documenting the adventures of life! says:
Such a sweet time ~ enjoy the magic! The other day I was flipping through the channels and caught myself watching Rudolf by MYSELF!!! I felt quite silly! I still have a 12 year old but they do grow up quickly and although you move onto fun and different memories….it isn’t the same as when they are young and everything is so special…..
Beckie says:
Such a sweet post. I am highly allergic to evergreen, so we had one of the first artificial trees in the neighborhood in 1967. I was devastated when after I went to bed, my parents dismantled the real one which we had just decorated. I was sick within 30 minutes of the tree being in the house. Mother said that she had been watching me get sicker, faster for several years. Not many people had as many allergies back then or at least that didn’t put cause and illness together. I take it rather personal when people are so ugly about those of us who have artificial trees. Not only for health reasons, safety and financial reasons, artificial trees are just the only way for us.
Skye says:
That’s such a cute idea! My boyfriend just bought a house and he’s still working on it so I knew he wouldn’t get around to getting a tree. Yesterday I brought him a tree about the same size as Annie’s, along with lights and ornaments, and we decorated it together. I love tiny trees- they really can light up a room. What a great tradition for Annie to have her very own tree every year!
Becky Campbell says:
Aww…your other (big) tree looks exactly like ours and now you’ve got purple lights on this one?! US TOO! They look more like dark pink/magenta, but they are purple according to the box!:) I love that we share these little things in common! We only have 1 tree and it’s fake…I can’t stand real trees…or the smell…:( I wish I’d thought ahead enough to start traditions with my kids. The only one we have is letting them open a joint gift on Christmas Eve.:(
Lauren says:
We have an artificial tree because my son & I are allergic to trees. Having a tree LIVE in our house for a few weeks would make us feel like death. Not fun. I do love the idea of a smaller tree for your kids- very creative!
Marta says:
That’s absolutely adorable. I completely understand what you mean about Christmas traditions. I have many that I have instated that I know don’t mean anything yet to my kids (4.5 and 15 mths) but one day they will look back upon them and their hearts will swell. (so I hope)
Jenny says:
It’s Annie’s tree but the purple color reminds me of Maddie. Decorating her tree with a special ornament for her sister could be a neat tradition for Annie.
Pattie says:
I love this idea. My husband and I have talked about buying a real tree in a few years when Coraline is big enough to want one, but maybe we can start her off with her own tiny tree next year.
Susana says:
Just (re)read this post, linked from your 2013 Christmas tree post.
I’ve got an 11-month-old who’s almost walking and seeing your pictures of Annie at 2 years is making me tear up. I’m trying to make my little one’s first Christmas special and looking forward to making future ones memorable for her. I can’t even imagine her running and doing cute things like putting up ornaments next year! Kids really make us appreciate such special moments