Rooms With a View

30 YEARS & HOLIDAY POOL~

Thirty years ago today, this beautiful woman passed away...

This is my mother.

Me and my mom. It is hard to believe that she has been gone for 30 years. How is it that after so many years I can still miss her so much?

A new tradition that we started after moving to South Carolina is having a pool tournament after the tree is completed. This year I let the kids take some photos. So, if you make it to the end of this post, you must really love me.

I love this photo!

I am not sure why there are no photos of Mitchell. He did take the majority of these photos but he also took second in the tournament behind Charlie. So, I know I took some of him. They were probably too blurry. Sorry Mitchell.

DRESSING THE TREE

The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally the day we put up our tree and make it beautiful. The last couple of years we have not been able to do it on this day. This year I was determined to our tradition back on track. Here are some photos from our day!

Vinny putting the garland on.

Now, I am quite the strict mom when it comes to putting on the ornaments. I always have Charlie start by putting on a beautiful ornament that belonged to his mom.

Next the kids start with their ornaments in order of when they receives them. They also must go in order of age.

Now, in this photo you will see many ornaments on the tree. That is because the first photos I took did not turn out. So, just pretend that this is only the second ornament being put on.

Mitchell was after Patrick.

Last but not least is Vinny.

Then we start all over again until the tree is done.

Our next tradition is purchasing new ornaments every Christmas. When the kids get married some day far away in the future, I will give them all of their ornaments. Charlie and I started picking out our own ornaments a couple of years ago when we realized that when the kids all get married, we will not have many ornaments left. Here are this years ornaments.

Charlie picked out a music note in honor of his father.

Patrick found a purple (his favorite color) cell phone that has TEXT ME written on it. PERFECT!

Mitchell also picked out a music note.

Vinny found a cute little elephant with a santa hat.

I picked out a cute pink skiing hippo.

Here is what they look like on the tree...

I cannot seem to find a photo of Mitchell's ornament on the tree. You will just have to trust me that it is on there.

Of course what would a family tradition be without a little goofiness?

Charlie and Patrick comparing foot sizes. Charlie wears a 14 and Patrick is closing in at 13.

That is it for our Christmas tree traditions.

 

HANDS DOWN~

One of my favorite traditions of the holidays is our tree skirt. We started it in 2001 and every year I paint one of the kid's hands and then place them on the skirt. It is so fun to see every year how much their hands have grown. Here are some photos from this years painting session. We completed the skirt on Sunday.

Painting Patrick's hand. I let each of the kids pick their color. Patrick has chosen purple for the past two years.

Pressing down his hand.

Mom helping press down Patrick hands. That is a paint brush in my mouth.

A close up.

When we use metallic paint it does not work as well as we would like. So, I have to do some filling in.

Mitchell chose gold paint.

Mitchell's gold hand.

Mitchell.

Vinny chose blue.

Painting Vinny's hand.

Vinny.

The finished project. I hope to complete three of these skirts before the kids all leave home. Then they will each have one. I only wish I had started it earlier. Oh well, better late than never.