Tree Trimming 2010

For some reason I still have the My Girl song stuck in my head, and I'm still concerned about the result of Ainsley's eyelid surgery but I am trying to be patient even though I suspect the results are going to be disappointing. It's hard to focus on Christmas when I've got much bigger issues on my mind but we did manage to get a tree last weekend, and get it decorated. I have to say it was more exhausting than fun but you wouldn't know it by the pictures. I'm going pull out the fragile and heirloom ornaments and let the kids go at it next year. Maybe I'll sit on the couch sipping a cocktail. Kidding. Or not.

We put Ainsley in her walker so she could walk around the lot with us this year but we picked a tree really fast. She was so happy to be up and about she didn't want to get back in the car. It was neat that she could be out there, though it was raining a bit. 

Ainsley just LOVES Adrian. He's such a good brother! They had so much fun with this Folkmanis puppet, 3 mice wrapped in a present. All the kids love that thing. I think it's their favorite decoration, and just so you know you can still buy them in stores.  

This is a rocker that was mine when I was a girl. I have fond memories of rocking in it and singing along to a Glen Campbell record. Yep, I'm that old.

Miss Ainsley has started taking a few side steps while holding on, or aka cruising. It appears that she is feeling much better after getting those plates out of her legs. She's decided to start transferring herself in and out of chairs. Pretty cool stuff. I know her nurse, Carmela, has worked on that with her a bit, so I guess that gave her the idea. But she moved the rocker over to the couch so she could use the couch to get in. Pretty resourceful and clever I'd say.

She worked hard to get her feet into place and then slowwwly lowered herself down.

Relieved when her bottom hit the chair and not the floor.

She's so proud of herself and so are we. Then she did it over and over again. Mind you this is completely by herself. No help.

Evie did trim the tree but was more interested in performing the Nutcracker wearing the same slip she has danced in since she was 3. Ainsley had a blast pulling ornaments out of the boxes and hanging them on the tree. (Mostly the ones that required no hooks.) 

Then she got herself into the rocker again, this time next to the tree, so she could sit and admire it. She's now even rocking herself in it.

And from there she would squeeze the hand of the Santa from Polar Express, making it say "The magic of Christmas lies in your heart." I can't help but remember how long and hard we worked for her to gain the skill of being able to simply push a button. She did it over and over. I think Christmas is going to be quite magical for her this year.

Evie and Adrian had to go to bed but Ainsley stayed up with us since she needed her final tube feeding. But.... she was tired and boy were we shocked to see this.....

SHE did this. She's been climbing up and down from the couch too! By herself! And so...she got up on the couch, stacked all 3 pillows in place plus the fleece hoodie (I guess for extra softness?) and layed down with the stuffed gingerbread cookie to relax.  We couldn't get over it.

And the finished result. 

Now for the past couple days Ainsley keeps randomly pointing at the tree as if to say "_______?"

a) Look mommy isn't it beautiful?!

b) That was fun can we do it again?

c) Why is there a tree covered in junk in the living room? Why, mommy, why?