OUR Christmas Tree

Twas the night before pictures,
and all through the house not a puppy was happy,
and we don’t own a mouse. So this rhyme is ending.
I had this idea in my head for our photos, had been working with Molly on “fetching”, and like, ya know, keeping the ball in her mouth as she runs back to me instead of dropping it 15 yards away, and expecting me to go get it. I assumed holding a sign would be a simple task…. And this is what I got instead.

I remember when I started seeing Joseph and Andrea’s photos when they first started out the business of Connection Photography. I was amazed. I’d been wanting to do a session with them for ages, but never acted on it… UNTIL NOW. And being the perfectionist I am, I was super excited to go shopping (hey, an excuse is an excuse). And then I had this idea that since we were already dressed to impress, why not set our Christmas tree up?? { Hair by Mirror Bomb Studio + Makeup by Erin Ashley Makeup } Writing about the meaning of “our” tree, it’s hard. It’s been one heck of a journey to find a decent man in my life to celebrate Christmas with – the season of love – the season where 40% of proposals happen – the season that I’ve spent tree-less since graduating high school because I feel like decorating a Christmas tree alone is sad. I had tried setting a tree up with my first boyfriend, but to say it was disastrous is an understatement (primarily because it didn’t happen, not with me anyway). After the way things had gone, I had no desire to set a tree up the following years, even with whoever I had dated at the time.
Chad has been different from the start. Everything is just…. right. I’ve never been put first before. He gets me. He knows what I desire in a relationship, what I want out of life, and he is the kind of guy that will do whatever it takes to ensure my happiness.
It was a cold night, we were cuddled up together watching a movie, and he mentioned decorating for the holidays. I was shocked. I hadn’t even considered it, but the instant he said it, my thoughts immediately went to us and what would be OUR tree. I knew he didn’t have the time to go shopping for the ornaments, so my sister and I hit up Target, and collected some rustic beauties that all have meaning to this relationship. And some just because they are adorable. But that night, my heart was full. I watched him put the star up at the top, I watched him tie the little bows on the ornaments so we could hang them (and then was informed I needed hooks…oops), and I smiled. And then had some cruffles from Got What It Cakes. We had everything we needed in that moment – love, happiness, and Molly. And cruffles. And my sister too I guess 😉 But we now have our tree that shines brightly through the night, and I can’t help but smile each time I see it.