Oh, Christmas Tree . . .

How tasty are your branches . . .

My dogs are destroying our beautiful $35 freshly cut tree. 

And then, puking up the evidence.

After a lovely day of picking out a tree, chopping it down ourselves and getting it home, we realized that we'd need to do minimal trimming this year since we were fearful our dogs would attack the ornaments. We had no idea.

First to be targeted were small stuffed snowmen that we thought we'd hung high enough. We didn't think that the puppies would simply climb on the back of the couch and sneak up on them. One by one they started disappearing. Some losing noses. Others, arms. It wasn't quite "The Walking Dead", but we had stuffed carnage.

Zane removed the remaining snowmen and rushed a few to the snowman "hospital" to get their arms taped back on. We designated the injured to our stuffed snowmen display on top of an armoire. Safe from canines.

My husband then rearranged our tree so that it still held a few ornaments

Only now, it looks ridiculous. And lopsided. Boring. Naked. It's a tree - that's for sure, but it's not a Christmas Tree like WE are used to having. It's blah.

The kids adore the dogs, so they aren't fretting about not having their favorite ornaments on the tree.

Or wrapped presents under it. No way I'm sticking the pile of stuff still in boxes underneath that deathtrap. All gifts have been relegated to a corner in my dining room. So festive.

Sigh.

Which, leads me to traditions . . . this year, one our ours was sunk. Due to our darling pups.

Usually we trim the tree heartily, turn off all the lights but the tree, and then run outside to look at it from the window. 

This year, after the snowman rescue effort, we trimmed our tree simply, with lights, a few red balls, a smattering of snowflakes (all at the top half), and Lucy, Charlie Brown, and Linus. End scene.

Sometimes we have to give up traditions - and for some people, that can be hard. I'm not digging the tree this year. We'll try again next year when the pups are older.

Does your family have any traditions that you've had to rearrange or drop completely? Is that hard for your family?

Joline Pinto Atkins is an actress who also uses the web as her world-wide stage and can also be found writing at The Cuppa Jo, and is the founder and a contributor at Daily Fast Fuel and the newly debuted SlimSavers.com. Joline is wife to one (phew - that's good to know) and mother of two amazing children, aged 11 and 7, who are both named after authors. Addicted to fitness, she is an Independent Team Beachbody Coach and sweats out any daily angst by exercising and P90X'ing, and longs for good books, vats of coffee, and an endless supply of buffalo wings - which she will not share with you. So, please, do not ask. 

Oh, Christmas Tree . . .

How tasty are your branches . . .

My dogs are destroying our beautiful $35 freshly cut tree. 

And then, puking up the evidence.

After a lovely day of picking out a tree, chopping it down ourselves and getting it home, we realized that we'd need to do minimal trimming this year since we were fearful our dogs would attack the ornaments. We had no idea.

First to be targeted were small stuffed snowmen that we thought we'd hung high enough. We didn't think that the puppies would simply climb on the back of the couch and sneak up on them. One by one they started disappearing. Some losing noses. Others, arms. It wasn't quite "The Walking Dead", but we had stuffed carnage.

Zane removed the remaining snowmen and rushed a few to the snowman "hospital" to get their arms taped back on. We designated the injured to our stuffed snowmen display on top of an armoire. Safe from canines.

My husband then rearranged our tree so that it still held a few ornaments

Only now, it looks ridiculous. And lopsided. Boring. Naked. It's a tree - that's for sure, but it's not a Christmas Tree like WE are used to having. It's blah.

The kids adore the dogs, so they aren't fretting about not having their favorite ornaments on the tree.

Or wrapped presents under it. No way I'm sticking the pile of stuff still in boxes underneath that deathtrap. All gifts have been relegated to a corner in my dining room. So festive.

Sigh.

Which, leads me to traditions . . . this year, one our ours was sunk. Due to our darling pups.

Usually we trim the tree heartily, turn off all the lights but the tree, and then run outside to look at it from the window. 

This year, after the snowman rescue effort, we trimmed our tree simply, with lights, a few red balls, a smattering of snowflakes (all at the top half), and Lucy, Charlie Brown, and Linus. End scene.

Sometimes we have to give up traditions - and for some people, that can be hard. I'm not digging the tree this year. We'll try again next year when the pups are older.

Does your family have any traditions that you've had to rearrange or drop completely? Is that hard for your family?

Joline Pinto Atkins is an actress who also uses the web as her world-wide stage and can also be found writing at The Cuppa Jo, and is the founder and a contributor at Daily Fast Fuel and the newly debuted SlimSavers.com. Joline is wife to one (phew - that's good to know) and mother of two amazing children, aged 11 and 7, who are both named after authors. Addicted to fitness, she is an Independent Team Beachbody Coach and sweats out any daily angst by exercising and P90X'ing, and longs for good books, vats of coffee, and an endless supply of buffalo wings - which she will not share with you. So, please, do not ask. 

We seem to have surpassed THAT age.

The age of toys.

I am elated.

My kids, 11 and 7, still play with Playmobile, of which they have a ton. They still play with swords. And legos - somewhat. We have ample board games. But gone are the days of transformers, and electronic toys, and wandering the aisles at Toys R Us. We've gone through the Thomas stage, the Tonka stage, the Bakugon stage.  In truth, I left Toys R Us for our local toy store a few years ago, only, there is nothing on their lists this year that even has me entering those once hallowed halls.

My daughter asked for Wii games. Our Will died suddenly over a year ago, at which time we donated our games to a local community center. But,  we've agreed to a new Wii for the long winter months and slumber parties - Just Dance is a NECESSITY for 11-12 year old girls. And, surprisingly, 7-8 year old boys. She's also asked for archery lessons, some iTunes mula, a few ski caps (she adores them), and a bike. As for Zane? Here's his letter to Santa written in school as an exercise in learning how to write letters:

Dear Santa Clause,

How is Dasher? I'm doing good. So anyway, I would really want an iPod case and a stuffed lion. I would also like Mario Party 8. Thank you. Love, Zane.

I have purchased a family night of bowling, snow tubing, and laser tag outings for the all of us. I have posted the grandparents on the Wii-front. They are united and strong. Harper's ski-cap is tucked away. I have stashed some art stuff for Zane under the bed. I am currently looking into family archery lessons, and am already rewarding Harper with iTunes $$$ for "work well done", 'cause 6th grade is kicking her patootie. Yes, Zane needs another lion (I mean he only has 16 . . . ) and his iPod case I am able to get for free at Radio Shack. As for a bike. Yep - we'll hold that back for a birthday.

So, I think that means . . . um . . . I'm done.

That's crazy.

And freeing.

And a relief.

I feel like we've graduated from something - to something else.

How old are your kids? What's on their list this year?

Joline Pinto Atkins is an actress who also uses the web as her world-wide stage and can also be found writing at The Cuppa Jo, and is the founder and a contributor at Daily Fast Fuel and the newly debuted SlimSavers.com. Joline is wife to one (phew - that's good to know) and mother of two amazing children, aged 11 and 7, who are both named after authors. Addicted to fitness, she is an Independent Team Beachbody Coach and sweats out any daily angst by exercising and P90X'ing, and longs for good books, vats of coffee, and an endless supply of buffalo wings - which she will not share with you. So, please, do not ask. 

We seem to have surpassed THAT age.

The age of toys.

I am elated.

My kids, 11 and 7, still play with Playmobile, of which they have a ton. They still play with swords. And legos - somewhat. We have ample board games. But gone are the days of transformers, and electronic toys, and wandering the aisles at Toys R Us. We've gone through the Thomas stage, the Tonka stage, the Bakugon stage.  In truth, I left Toys R Us for our local toy store a few years ago, only, there is nothing on their lists this year that even has me entering those once hallowed halls.

My daughter asked for Wii games. Our Will died suddenly over a year ago, at which time we donated our games to a local community center. But,  we've agreed to a new Wii for the long winter months and slumber parties - Just Dance is a NECESSITY for 11-12 year old girls. And, surprisingly, 7-8 year old boys. She's also asked for archery lessons, some iTunes mula, a few ski caps (she adores them), and a bike. As for Zane? Here's his letter to Santa written in school as an exercise in learning how to write letters:

Dear Santa Clause,

How is Dasher? I'm doing good. So anyway, I would really want an iPod case and a stuffed lion. I would also like Mario Party 8. Thank you. Love, Zane.

I have purchased a family night of bowling, snow tubing, and laser tag outings for the all of us. I have posted the grandparents on the Wii-front. They are united and strong. Harper's ski-cap is tucked away. I have stashed some art stuff for Zane under the bed. I am currently looking into family archery lessons, and am already rewarding Harper with iTunes $$$ for "work well done", 'cause 6th grade is kicking her patootie. Yes, Zane needs another lion (I mean he only has 16 . . . ) and his iPod case I am able to get for free at Radio Shack. As for a bike. Yep - we'll hold that back for a birthday.

So, I think that means . . . um . . . I'm done.

That's crazy.

And freeing.

And a relief.

I feel like we've graduated from something - to something else.

How old are your kids? What's on their list this year?

Joline Pinto Atkins is an actress who also uses the web as her world-wide stage and can also be found writing at The Cuppa Jo, and is the founder and a contributor at Daily Fast Fuel and the newly debuted SlimSavers.com. Joline is wife to one (phew - that's good to know) and mother of two amazing children, aged 11 and 7, who are both named after authors. Addicted to fitness, she is an Independent Team Beachbody Coach and sweats out any daily angst by exercising and P90X'ing, and longs for good books, vats of coffee, and an endless supply of buffalo wings - which she will not share with you. So, please, do not ask.