Diary Game 11/23: Building our Christmas tree with the help of my 3 year old daughter

Christmas has been my favorite holiday of the year. In the country where I grew up, Philippines, we start our preparation as well as celebration as early as September or 'ber months. We are known are known to have the "longest Christmas celebration". Because we are in different side of the world now, I opted to have it in November right after Halloween.

I grew up using a dried mangrove as a tree for Christmas. We picked up some nice and well branches mangroves and then we paint them with white or we put cotton all over the tree. When it is all covered, My family and I will hanged some candies but the funny thing is that, even before Christmas day the candies are gone and what's left are the wrappers, hahaha. It ended, we put some tiny rocks in replacement of the lost candies that we ate. Still, it gives a smile on my face whenever I remember those days.

But now, are using a more nicer tree. The same tree we had from last year but we made a little changes this time. I purchased some decorations and lights (white color), while last year we had different colors of lights and bigger decorations (old ornaments of my husband he got as a gift when he was a kid). Our tree is actually artificial and short. So I put it on the table to make it a little bit taller. The size is just enough for our not so huge space.

In building our tree, my daughter Eva had so much fun decorating our it. She was the one who keeps on reminding me to put our tree soon when she learns that people starts putting some Christmas decorations in their house. She helps in putting strings to the tiny reindeer, Santa Claus, gifts, hats, snow flakes and so much more designs. She even brought some butterflies and cross from school that she designed by herself for the tree. She is a big helper and a responsible big sister to my 9 month old baby, Ella.

When it's done, both of my kids enjoy the tree especially when the light is on and dancing in a dim space of our house. Having a Christmas tree in our house gives so much joy and hope in me. It reminds me of the birth of my savior, Jesus Christ.

Such a blessing and so much joy to be a mother of these two beautiful girls. Though sometimes life is hard with all the household chores and other things, for as long as I offer all my trials to God, everything goes smoothly.