A Homemade Christmas

(another post from Allen)

I drop Ethan off at school every morning.  This morning he asked me why "everybody" hangs Christmas lights on their houses.  If only he knew how people used to get in the Christmas spirit.  I informed him that when I was a child, you were frowned upon if your house didn't have Christmas lights.  Now, it seems to be the opposite.

Becky and I were married six years ago.  Our first Christmas was a nightmare.  I am Mr. Christmas.  I mean, our living room will always look like Dollywood at Christmas time.  Unfortunately, I gave no consideration for Becky's upbringing.  I am pro-colored lights.  She is not.  I am pro-artificial.  She likes to cut down then tree.  I am a November 1st kinda guy.  She likes to put away the turkey and dressing first.  In true Pruitt fashion, I took over.  Believe it or not, Becky has great ideas.  She is unbelievably creative.  She showed me there is another (and sometimes a better) way.  Okay, most of the time she has the better way.

Year 2 came around and it was a bit better.  We started a new Christmas tree tradition.  We began collecting Disney ornaments.  We collected everything from wooden puppets, to clown fish, cowboys, spacemen, dwarfs, spotted dogs, and every princess known to man.  We grew quite the collection.  However, it was never "ours".  It didn't feel like home.

That was, until this November.  We had a blast with this year's tree.  We have a homemade rustic Christmas tree,  every ornament either found in nature or handmade.  I have posted a slideshow for your enjoyment.

Christmas is about Christ.  It's about family.  It's about friends.  It's about love.  We incorporated all of those into this year's Christmas tree.  The boys had the opportunity to help us make ornaments, decorate, share stories, learn the reasons/purposes behind decorations, and spend time with mom and dad.  Becky and I spent some wonderful time together dreaming, creating, organizing, and implementing Christmas into OUR home this year.  It is, by far, the best Christmas tree we've ever had.  We will only build on it in coming years.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

26 things about being 26

I've been 26 for a whole day so far, and I already have 26 things say about it.  Most of this is idle ramblings because I have bloggers block. 

1.  I've not had to cook the entire time I've been 26.  That trend will end when Ethan wakes up in the morning...but it was a nice break while it lasted.
2.  The filter that stops me from saying EXACTLY what is on my mind, EXACTLY when it comes to my mind has completely stopped working. 
3.  The dark cloud that has been hanging over our family since April 15th went away yesterday.  So 26 has been dark cloudless.   That will make sense to those who know the attack we have been under since April 15th.
4.  My son is much more handsome since I've been 26...and tomorrow he will be even cuter.  I'm a psychic.  I don't see his cute/handsome streak anytime soon. 
5.  I'm an emotional train wreck. 
6.  I'm still truly, madly, deeply (shout out to savage garden) in love with my husband.
7.  I want to be the mother of multiple children more than ever.
8.  It still overwhelms me that God has entrusted me with Ethan.  I am soooo thankful for this gift.
9.  I have a HUGE desire to be a better mother at 26 than I was at 25.
10.  I have a HUGE desire to be a better wife at 26 than I was at 25.
11.  I have a HUGE desire to be a better person at 26 than I was at 25.
12.  Pink is still my favorite color.
13.  I love black nail polish on others and hate it on me.  Yes, I painted my nails black for the first time during my first 2 hours of being 26. 
14.  The older I get the shorter my hair gets. 
15.  American Eagle is not cool, and Mast General Store is.  Proof positive I'm growing up.
16.  I have not conquered the "yes" syndrome.  I just don't enjoy telling people "no, sorry I can't". 
17.  I haven't clipped any coupons since turning 26.
18.  I've not gained any weight since I turned 26.  Let's all rejoice in miracles!
19.  I've not lost any weight since I turned 26.  You can stop rejoicing now.
20.   I've been exhausted the entire time I've been 26. 
21.  I love funny people and don't enjoy boring people and I'm not afraid to say it.  Refer to number two if I've hurt your feelings.
22.  I had hoped I would overcome my addiction to "Real Housewives of Every County" but I haven't.
23.  Allen and Ethan got new shoes on my birthday and I did not, and I will rub that in their face every chance I get to prove I'm not selfish.  Which will annoy them...which will make me happy.  Gloating over non selfishness is not selfish is it?
24.  I'm getting "set in my ways".  Sooo that boils down to the fact that it's my way or the highway.  I need to work on that. 
25.  Insomnia is still running wild during my 26th year of life.
26.  The end.