A Very Boyish Christmas

I had big plans for my Christmas decorations this year that included lots of warm flannel, cute woodland creatures, and burlap for miles. I wanted my house to feel like you just walked into a log cabin in the middle of Vermont. Comforting, rustic, quaint, that’s what I had in mind for my Christmas…my kids had a totally different plan.

Best Laid Plans

We bought a natural tree for the first time in years because I thought it would go much better with the planned Woodland Creature theme than the vintage aluminum tree we’ve been using in the past. This was a big deal. I love my aluminum tree and it felt a bit like I was cheating on it when we bought the real tree. But I knew it was going to be worth it when I saw my awesome Woodland tree!

I should have known that my two boys were going to insist on using the random ornaments and decorations we’ve collected over the years instead of the adorable plush owls, rusted snowflakes, and frosted pinecones I had already bought. They were absolutely stunned when I suggested not hanging the Buzz Lightyear or Scooby Doo Mystery Machine ornaments on the tree this year. Oh the horror!

Desperate Times

So I did what any good mother would do…tried to bribe them with a movie if they let me decorate the tree the way I wanted to. The next thing I know, my boys (including my 37 year old husband) are hanging miniature starships in my tree and discussing whether the Romulan Bird-Of-Prey has a direct line of sight with the Enterprise. My vision of adorable little foxes in plaid scarves and owls wearing santa hats had officially been squashed by a 5″ high talking AT-AT. (That’s a Star Wars reference, just in case you’re not up on your sci-fi lingo. Don’t feel bad if you didn’t know that, you probably have a really cute tree.)

If You Can’t Beat ‘Em

So, after admitting my defeat and tucking away my rustic woodland vision until next year (or the year after that, or the year after that…), I pulled out all the stops and, amid laughs and giggles from two little boys, decorated our house to reflect the magic and joy of childhood. Somewhere in between the gorgeous pictures on Pinterest and Facebook, I forgot that my boys are both so little still and we’re making magical memories to last a life time. They will remember that crazy flashing miniature Lightsaber long after all the ornaments have been put away.

I know that in a few years they will be older and I will have to beg them to decorate the tree with me and then…I will pull out boxes and boxes of adorable creatures, wood slice garland, and pinecone ornaments and I will finally have my woodland dream! Until then, it will be a Very Boyish Christmas around here!