we got our tree saturday. we were out looking for a "solstice shrub," but ended up with a tree. except, one with no bark. one that has never had roots of any kind. it's made of metal wires and tubes, and it's made of some synthetic material made to look like long silky pine needles.

yes, i got a fake tree. i always detested fake trees. but that was when 1) i didn't care so much about trees, and 2) my mom did the clean up of the needles, and 3) my dad dealt with tying the damned thing to the roof of the car, and 4) i didn't have indoor cats who ate the needles and drank the water, and 5) i didn't buy the tree.

thing one first thought of the fake tree. thing two wasn't too happy, but i promised her a small potted real tree for her room (i should write that down somewhere, so i don't forget). beloved was fine with the idea.

the Things actually had a great time assembling the tree. and we strung popcorn and cranberries, and we sorted through our ornaments, and rid ourselves of the tacky ones. we also talked about christmas v. solstice a lot. the kids LOVE doing solstice.

i think that the part of this shift to solstice from christmas that i'm most happy about is my kids' lack of materialism. we make gifts for each other, and they LOVE it. just love it. they do not mind, and do not miss the "stuff." my parents still get "stuff" (my mom bought them each their THIRD american girl doll for christmas this year. THIRD!!! that is ridiculous. most kids whose parents have my financial situation would kill to get one, but mine? they have THREE EACH!! unbelievable -- although i am glad to know that my mom is not participating in the boycott against the company.)

I was in Thing Two's classroom for a family breakfast last week, and there was a wish list on the wall. three kids (2nd graders - 7 year olds) wanted a laptop, 4 wanted a cell phone, and 3 wanted an iPod. many wanted some kind of video game. my daughter? she wanted a box to keep her journals in. we asked her later what kids wanted laptops for, and she got this funky look on her face and said, "that's what i've been wondering!!!"

We are making gifts. i don't know what they're making for me .... but for them, i'm making boxes to keep their journals in (duh), and i'm decorating these boxes. beloved has made a bulletin board for Thing One, covered in fabric (red velvet) and then it has black ribbon through it, like pottery barn makes (only theirs are usually not in red and black). he's making Thing Two a bookshelf. he also mounted some beautiful bugs in shadow boxes. he wrote a haiku to go with the dragonfly for Thing One. it's cool.

so i'm off to decoupage some boxes. the girls are still up, but in their room, scramblign to get their last minute things done. i wonder if we'll succeed?

posted by Zuska @ 5:20 PM

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