A Grinch Stole My Christmas--Literally!

I refuse to turn into my friend Dana. I also refuse to let Ben take over this blog with only sports-related musings. I love sports (as much as the next girl), but our Christmas was almost ruined! Well, maybe just the decorating part of Christmas.

A few weeks ago, Ben ventured to the basement to fetch our Christmas decorations. Three huge boxes later, we were ready for set-up.

Large, pre-lit Christmas tree: check

Mini Christmas tree from college days: check

Garland: check

Nativity: check

Last year, Ben and I spent hours shopping for Christmas decorations. I was very specific about what I wanted in a tree: it needed to look very real (I have insane allergies that keep me from enjoying a real tree), it needed to be a particular shape to fill out a large corner in the living room, and it needed to be nice and tall. Well, we found the perfect tree. High five, Ben;)

The garland came from my mom's house. I can't remember if I asked permission to take it! Sorry, mom. It is lush, blends well with my tree, and is covered with mini pinecones. My mom is an amazing decorator and she has tons of Christmas decorations that she alternates each year. I think, at this point, she doesn't even realize the massive amounts of Christmas paraphernalia that fill her attic. I actually noticed yesterday that Carrie sneaked out with some old garland, too!

Now, my nativity scene is very important to me. It was a wedding present from our dear friends Emily and Greg, and her parents Doc and Mrs. Ruth. I love it; it made me feel very grown up to have my own nativity scene for our first (married) Christmas together.

What could be missing, you ask? Ornaments.

So, I sent Ben back to the basement. Nothing. So, I went down myself. Nothing. I tore the house apart, looking in every closet, box, and hiding place. Nothing. After a week of this exact same process, I called our landlord. In order to prepare for their expanding family, Will and his wife Georgiana recently moved from the apartment above us into a beautiful home. I just knew that our Christmas ornaments were sitting in a (labeled) box in his attic. Yep, you guessed it: nothing.

I know our ornaments came from Target or Garden Ridge, but there was a sentimentality attached to those ornaments. It took me weeks to get over the loss. Our tree stood bare in that perfect corner for the longest time. I refused to do anything about it--except send Ben back to the basement and harass Will by phone and text.

This week, my mom came to the rescue. She refused to let the tree stand empty for the entire holiday season. It's impossible to pout now--pictures to come!