Christmas 2024 is done and in the books. DD and SIL will head home today. It's been really nice having them a bit longer than they usually stay. We had a super low key day yesterday. Breakfast was blueberry muffins and some strawberry-banana smoothies made in the new blender. Then we opened our stockings.
Later afternoon we started watching the 3rd Die Hard movie. DH had invited some friends over to meet dd and sil and they messaged they would come around 5:30. We had a really nice visit with them until around 8:30. I put out the candy that was in my stocking - in hopes it would get eaten up and I wouldn't be tempted, and a lot of it did disappear, so that is good ;)
I'm ready to not be in the kitchen so much, though, LOL. And ready for a good nap. I've been surprised at how much dh is napping (ie falling asleep sitting on the sofa or loveseat). I have a feeling he must be napping during the day when I am up in my office working or when I am taking a nap on weekends and I just never realized it. He did make it through the movies though, which usually if we sit down to watch one, he's out in minutes. I really needed a nap yesterday, as I only got about 4 hours sleep Christmas Eve night - I was having terrible acid reflux. Too much food and sweets. I did take an omeprazole yesterday around dinner time to see if that would help for last nights sleep and apparently it did. I will be glad to get back to my normal eating/foods.
SIL helped dh get his game cameras set up yesterday, so I'm sure we'll see lots of deer pics this morning as we could see the deer out there, from our windows, last night as soon as it got dark.
Now we are finally supposed to get some snow starting today and all week, but it sounds like the kids will be able to get on the road and ahead of it and not much is expected today, anyway. I'm just ready for a big enough dump that dh get to get out there and plow LOL. It's a great relaxing thing for him, just like mowing the lawn is.
My big tree has had even more lights go out. Now only the top 1/3 and bottom 1/4 is lit. Bummer it didn't last longer than 5 years. I tried to suggest to dh, if we get another tree, to make it 10 feet instead of 12 LOL. He wasn't going for that. Maybe at least that would be a little easier to manage. I'm going to be seeing what is on sale now, but so far the ones I found, that are now like 50%, off are all pre-lit. I did just find one through Target (12') that is regularly $900 for $300. I'll keep this one bookmarked while I keep looking. I am expecting whatever I decide to pay for a big un-lit tree it is going to (should) last us for many years to come.
DH liked his teeny tiny present I wrapped LOL. He was surprised :) It does sound like he will probably buy the aftermarket towing mirrors, so that will be much cheaper, which is good.
I can’t believe I am suggesting this, but Balsam Hill has pretty unlit trees. They usually have a sale around Easter, which is when I bought mine. My issue was that there was an incomplete weld in the end of one of the sections which stuck into another section, causing it to not sit flush and tip. Return was easy, but we didn’t notice until we put it up, so waited until after Christmas to return it. That said, it was beautiful, and looked real, for all I was disappointed in my experience. Apparently, according to the reviews, I am an outlier!
ReplyDeleteFunny how the unlit ones are more expensive, isn’t it?
(Meg B.h
DeleteAnd that “h” should be a parentheses…not enough coffee yet today! FYI, DD and her friend were planning a snowboard day, and said the passes are supposed to be clear for the next two days.
DeleteI have a Balsam Hill tree skirt, which is very beautiful, but from what I've seen of their tree prices, they are way out of my budget, even on sale, for the large size we want. I'll bet their trees are really nice, though.
DeleteIt sounds like a good Christmas. The deer cam should be fun.
ReplyDeleteIf you like your current tree as you take it down I would just strip its lights, I’m not suggesting it’s easy but a little at a time and you will be glad you did. I used a small like pliers type wire cutter and kept at it sometimes every couple of inches where it is into the branches but cut cut and done! I did a 12 foot tree and a smaller one a couple of years ago and I’m so glad cause I still love those trees. Plus getting rid of yours and getting a new tree takes time and mess, and money for for me it wasn’t just the money, I liked the trees and was sick of light issues and it’s harder to find unlit trees.
ReplyDeleteThis is our plan to just keep working on getting the lights off a little at a time. I hope it ends up not being too difficult. We do plan to use wire cutters, as well and maybe with both us of working on it, we'll get it done at some point ;)
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