The Tree of a Thousand Lights!

The Allen Family and our family have been dear friends for as long as I can remember. I believe Patti and Roland met my parents through a marriage encounter weekend. Also, when you live in Utah and are Catholic, you pretty much stick to together. Because we have no family in Utah (all back in New York) we spent holidays with the Allens (also transplants from Ohio). Years and years ago our parents started a tradition of co-hosting a huge christmas party on Christmas eve. Everyone was invited and it was quite the social event! It was an open house style so people would either come before Christmas Eve Mass or after, depending on which service they went to. Whenever I was home for the holidays, I loved this party as it was a way to catch up with all my old friends! There was always the "young adult" section out on the back patio - near the beer and I believe there was a heater lamp some years too, because December in Utah is cold! Our parents always kept count of how many people attended the party and it was always just over 100! Anyways, the party was always at the Allens house who lived a few streets over from my parents. Patti's house was always decorated to the nines and the highlight of course, was her beautiful Christmas tree!!!! It was always stunning! Well one year in particular she had to document a story about all the mishaps and fiascos that went into creating the perfect Christmas tree. She titled the story "The Tree of a Thousand Lights". It is a hilarious story about getting all those lights on the tree, the tree stand breaking, leaking water through to the basement, etc. It is fabulous and when you read the story, you will never look at their Christmas tree the same! So anyway, with that being said, this year Don was fretting about the lights on our tree. The strands were different so there were different colors on top then on the bottom strand, he felt there was a section that needed more lights alltogether... So needless to say, we have yet to decorate our tree as my husband is trying to get the lights just right! I love him dearly for it - he wants it to be perfect for the boys. Watching him, hmm and haa over the light issue reminded me of the Allen family. Now we too have a "Tree of a Thousand Lights!"

Connor "helping" Don get the lights all untangled.

Connor is fascinated by all the lights!

Don attempting to put the first strand of lights on the tree....