It all started with a birthday...

The birthday itself was good.  You know, you turn another year older, you look in the mirror and say, "Yep, another year older alright...few more wrinkles, several more bulges, sags, and bags, but overall, I feel good!"

That's how the birthday started out.

We had daughter and granddaughter over for supper and birthday cake with cards and presents opening and the like.  It was a party!!  Small...but a party it was, with the four of us.  The birthday song was sung and candles were blown out for another year.

THEN came the tree decorating.

Have I mentioned previously, over the past years, how much we are in need of a new Christmas tree stand?
No????  Well, if I haven't mentioned it here, I have mentioned it many times to various 'persons'.

I digress....Shannon, Brittney and I began the tedious and fun project of tree decorating.  The lights, the old, tacky gold garland, the many old trinkets and balls and home made creations of bygone days when children made home-made decorations.  All went on the tree.

Just when we were about finished I stood back and began watching, ever-so-slowly the beautifully lit and decorated Christmas tree begin to head north.  I reached out and grabbed the Balsam fir with a firm grip around his trunk.  Husband began his diligent work of attempting to 'fix' the old tree stand with various chunks of wood as leverage around the tree stand.  It wasn't working.  We lifted the tree out of the stand and back into the stand and after 10 minutes or so of trying to get the tree to stand alone we decided it was a futile effort.

Away went husband to the nearest store.

Meanwhile, Brittney and I are left holding the tree, literally, all lit and decorated, while husband does a quick trip to nearest box store to save the day.

Half an hour and four tired arms later, a new tree stand is placed not so gracefully in it's rightful spot.  In goes tree trunk.  Perfect.  New tree stand holding decorated and lit tree and two happy women who can now let go of said tree!

But while husband is off on his stand trek, Brittney and I have loads of fun making crazy, zany and unflattering faces into her blackberry camera.  Much laughter peeled through the living room while Christmas carols played on and our arms began to be numb from the weight....well, a bit of an exaggeration, but it was tiring!

So, that was a memorable moment, shared by a granddaughter and her Gram and Gramps.

Brittney held on while I took pics.  It just got better after that:)