Tim’s getting so grown up. This year after the tree was cut down, he ran to help tug it along to the car. Near the payment booth they have a shaker machine. Guys set the base of the tree in this device and it rattles and shakes all the loose needles and junk out of the tree. Last year when Tim saw this, his eyes got big and he started to laugh, “Oh, I hope all the squirrels will be coming out now!” This year he’s very manly and matter-of-fact.
Later we decorated the tree, and there’s an odd ornament in Tim’s box, but it’s his.
It was a little bent and mangy, but he was so cute, so totally four, that I said sure, and he put it in his pocket. When we got home, he hung it on the tree.
Well, Dan was over a day or two later and saw that ratty old air freshener on the tree and incredulous, asked me what the hell this was?? He said, “It’s even all nastified.” I told him the story, and he could not really keep from chuckles escaping as he asked Tim about it. “Dude, what does it smell like?”
Tim’s perfectly straight answer,”It smells like roads.” Dan threw back his head laughing until he had to wipe his eyes. It doesn’t smell like roads, even this year it smells faintly of vanilla. It was in his box of ornaments with the date: “Tim, 2006.”


Speaking of Tim….
I think you were getting Christmas stuff out when he had the great idea that there would be a VIP section on the tree. It was the "Ornament Party" and only certain ornaments through Tim's approval were allowed to be hung in the designated party area of the tree.
Where on earth does he get his ideas???
I'll have to ask around, check out that section, see which ornaments made the cut.
I saw your tip on Heather's blog about swiffer pads being washable. I'm totally going to try that one TODAY. Thanks for the info!