Friday, December 5, 2025

Friday, December 5, 2025

Tonight's picture was taken in December of 2002. Mattie was 8 months old and we were excited as this was his first Christmas. I wanted to get a photo of Mattie with our tree and I figured the only way that would happen was with him sitting in his high chair. Mattie disliked sitting still and he wasn't a fan of the whole high chair notion. Which was why early on I used to fed Mattie while he was sitting in his car seat. He loved that car seat. I do not know what I would have done without it, because the only way I could get Mattie to sleep at night was by strapping him into the car seat and then placing the seat in his crib! Desperate times called for desperate measures. 

Quote of the day: Tonight, I look up, searching for you among the stars. ~ Tilicia Haridat

When I was not caregiving and running chores today, I was decorating the house for Christmas. Somehow decorating is a full time job! Thankfully all the Christmas things are labeled and organized in the basement, otherwise, I would be at this for weeks. When Mattie died in 2009, I stopped decorating for Christmas. My world came to a crashing halt and the spirit and joy of the holidays also died. I began to decorate again in 2021, when my parents moved in with us. So that is 12 years without decorating. If it were just me, I wouldn't be decorating, but I do it for my parents, as it helps to orient them to the season, and it also provides a bit of a festive nature to our home. 

I absolutely love this reindeer. I almost forgot about him, until I went into the garage storage area yesterday and found him. We used to display him outside, but I think he looks great in the front hallway!

When in the garage yesterday and rummaging through the overhead storage space, I found two bins. I had no idea what was in them. When I opened them, I found all my mom's Christmas floral decorations that she had in California. I used to love them, but I forgot all about them until yesterday! I am thrilled to have her Christmas roses on my table! 

Can you see the plastic Santas? They were mine when I was a child! I can recall playing with them when I was Mattie's age. I LOVED them! My mom saved them for me. To me they represent a different Vicki, and a different life. 

My front hallway. The reindeer candle holders were given to me by my former mother-in-law and the green tree candles are my mom's. The sleigh was something I bought years ago at an antique store. My point is..... everything I have, has a story associated with it! 

I was recently given this poinsettia as a gift. So today, I placed it in one of the sleighs I have and made it into my island centerpiece. 

My mom got this tree years ago in Los Angeles. A clothing store called Coldwater Creek was going out of business and they were selling off their displays. She bought this cute tree and if you see it in person, it almost looks real. I got the lights on it today and tomorrow I will place ornaments on it!

Do you see the stained glass Christmas Tree? This was a gift from my former mother-in-law. She used to have this tree on display in the room I stayed in at her house. When I moved into my house, she gave me the tree. I display it every year and it symbolizes a better time in my life. 

Meet Charlie Brown! This is the name I have given this tree. I found this artificial tree in our garage storage area. We used to display it outside. I decided to use it inside and I have been having a heck of a time putting it together. It most definitely does NOT look like the beautiful real trees we used to have, but I am determined to make this tree work. I got the lights on it tonight and will work on decorating it tomorrow. 

I have been working hard today to add Christmas color to our home. I will continue on this journey this weekend, but I made great progress today. My dad is enjoying seeing all the decorations, so if nothing else, this makes it worth it.