Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

Tonight we decorated our Christmas tree. We cleaned and wiped and decluttered and rearranged all day to get ready for this fabulous event.

As Hebs watched from the safety of his high chair, and the older children danced around excitedly, Bradley put the tree up. While I "fluffed" the branches (I hate that part of fake trees (and the lack of pine scent), but I love the savings and the convenience and the prelightedness of the fake trees too much to give them up at this point), Bradley dug the ornaments out of the box.

He then did something I have never had the courage to do: He gave each child (even Gee!) one ornament (glass!) at a time, and let the kids put the ornaments wherever on the tree they liked. This method resulted a very oddly decorated tree. (The bottom and the sides (where the kids could climb on the chairs to reach high) were very well decorated. The middle and the back? Well, not so much there. I think Momma will do some subtle rearranging in the dark of the night.)

But it also resulted in some supremely happy children. They were thrilled to get to participate so closely (and without so much momma-hovering) in this important family event. And I realized something: Who cares about the stupid ornaments? The one ornament I do care about, a pottery star with my 5-year-old picture in the middle, I removed from the boxes and placed myself. But the others? Wal-mart or Target specials, cheap as they come and easily replaceable. And to watch my children glow with the excitement and pride of decorating the tree by themselves--it was, to use a cliche, priceless.

And then Bradley suggested that we watch "The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd," a film by the Church that tells the story of the inhabitants of the Americas intertwined with the life of Christ. The testimony this film bears is pretty powerful, and I was crying by the end.

Zee: Why are you sniffing, Momma?
Momma: Because I am so happy.
Em: (Fake crying voice) I'm so happy too!! (Bursts into false tears.)

Despite that little interlude, it was a perfect way to end our Christmas tree evening.

My kids have a pretty brilliant daddy.

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Advent Day 4: Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. This was against God's command. They became mortal, and had to leave the Garden of Eden. 2 Nephi 2:19, 22-26 "And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit they were driven out of the garden of Eden, to till the earth.
22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.

23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.

24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.

25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given."

And I wanted to add--my extremely talented mother-in-law Eva made us this gorgeous quilted advent wall-hanging. (You can see it in the picture above if you click on the picture to enlarge it.) We've filled it with candy and little treats for the kids to eat while we are doing the Advent reading. They love it, and I love it too. Thank you so much, Eva.