I click on the link and it opens up to another amazing home filled with gorgeous Christmas decorations. Every room has a Christmas tree, each with a different theme. There are multiple fireplaces adorned to perfection for the holidays. In every room touches of fresh greenery are tucked here and there, and the Christmas creche is beautiful to behold, no chipped donkey’s ear on their manger scene.
I wonder . . . can it really all be so perfect?
In reality, I don’t wonder at all because I know it’s not! Decorating for Christmas is a lot of work and, in the world of blogging, it seems the bar is raised each year to outdo what you’ve done the year before.
Warning: The road to the perfect can be filled with many trials and tribulations. Share on X
Have you seen the movie Christmas Vacation? In spite of a bit of coarse language it’s one of my favorite holiday movies because I relate to the characters on a personal level. Maybe you can too.
I mean really, what parent of tweens and teens can’t see their own children’s behavior in the Griswold kids – rolling their eyes when their parents start singing Christmas carols in the car and whining about having to go along to pick out the Christmas tree?
Who doesn’t have an embarrassing Uncle Eddy?
Or a confused Aunt Bethany?
Finally, who can’t relate to a husband like Clark who thinks it’s his duty to fix everything himself? Okay, maybe YOU can’t, but let me share with you the reality of Christmas preparations at OUR home!
The first year in our South Carolina home we began putting up our Christmas decor early, excited that all the kids were coming for Christmas and wanting to make it extra special. In this house we have A REAL attic! When we first saw the attic Mr. OTN had visions of old trunks filled with treasures that we could open to wondering little eyes. I had visions of Clark Griswold accidentally locked in the attic, dressed in old grandma clothes he’d pulled from a trunk to keep warm.
I declared the attic one of my favorite rooms and I was anxious to get up there and start bringing down the Christmas boxes.
Now picture this, we are in the middle of all the Christmas preparations and I’m enjoying pawing through old treasures and thinking of how I’ll use them in our new home. Mr. OTN (let’s call him Clark for this post) decides to venture to the far corner of the attic to check out why the flood light on the highest corner of the house has suddenly started blowing a fuse whenever we turn the switch on.
The thought runs through my mind that this is a dangerous thing because there is no flooring in that part of the attic. But not to worry, Clark knows what he’s doing. I’ve lugged another box down the ladder and I’m really feeling the JOY of Christmas when I’m startled by a sudden CLUNK and a CRASH from overhead, followed by a muffled “Grrrrr . . .!”
I get one of those sinking feelings deep down in the pit of my stomach as I begin inching toward the sound.
Down the length of the upstairs hallway and into the bedroom where I’m met by a pile of “snow” in the middle of the floor.
Looking up I see one Levi’d leg hanging down through a new hole in the ceiling.
NOTE the cute reindeer socks!
“Honey?”
NO ANSWER
“Are you okay?”
NO ANSWER
“Oh no”, I think to myself. “What should I do?” From the position he’s in I can see he’s straddling a floor brace. Maybe he’s passed out from the pain!
What to do first?
Camera?
911?
Camera?
I’m still frozen on the spot, debating back and forth when Clark assures me he’s okay, just feeling a little stupid.
Not stupid really since, as you can see, there are places in our attic where the insulation is three feet tall. In his wading through some of the deepest “snow”, trying to find a floor joist, his foot slipped and down he went, through the bedroom ceiling.
NOTE as well the Griswoldish hat . . . very stylish though a little warm for South Carolina!
What do we do when we do these Griswoldy types of things? What do you do, assuming you ever feel a bit like a Griswold family member? We could become angry with each other and have on occasion acted out that way. The older we get though the more we realize that impediments to progress, whether it be something hard or a simple inconvenience, are not worth getting upset over.
So we laugh our way to the store to buy a piece of sheet rock, tape, and joint compound, and we talk about whether or not I’m allowed to share this story with the world.
My husband feels no need for pretense. He can be goofy (YOU saw the hat) and he readily admits that he make mistakes, just like Clark. Just like you and me.
The outdoor decorating is finished and Clark proudly turns on the lights!
Tada! All ready for Christmas!
In bed that night:
Me: Honey, the flood lights are shining through the window. Did you say there is a remote control that turns them off?
Clark: Yes. It isn’t working yet . . . but it will.
Me: When?
Clark: When I can get it to work.
Me: Okay, well I’m too tired to go outside and turn them off.
Clark: Me too.
The covers come up over the heads until,
TWO HOURS LATER,
Clark: They really are bright aren’t they?
Me: Yes, and they are lovely!
Our life together has been filled with so many stories: Sad, happy, devastating, uplifting, broken, redeemed, and through it all, overcoming! Our life is good!
May your days leading up to Christmas be filled with joy in the midst of the crazy!
Christmas Blessings from The Kranks
I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
SundaysAtHome, TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SilverPenniesSundays, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays
Monday:
IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, TheDedicatedHouse, Dwellings, ProjectInspired, InspireMeMonday, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, CelebrateYourStory, What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings, Darling Downs Diaries, The Art of Homemaking, MomentsOfHope, Glimpses, SittingAmongFriends, InspireMeMonday, GodSizedDreams
Tuesday:
TalkOfTheTown, HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, CoastalCharm, CedarHillFarmhouse, TuesdaysAtOurHome, TheWinthropChronicles, Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky, Testimony Tuesday,Cheerleaders of Faith,Tell His Story
Wednesday:
SavvySouthernStyle, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays, Coffee for Your Heart, MessyMarriage, ThreeWordWednesday, WriterWednesday
Thursday:
ShareYourStyle, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, MyRepurposedLife, ADelightsomeLife, KatherinesCorner, Thought Provoking Thursday, SincerelyPaulas, ThoughtfulThursday, Tune-inThursday
Friday:
FrenchCountryCottage, TheCharmOfHome, TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday, ShabbyliciousFriday, Sweet Inspiration, Faith’nFriends, Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays, Dance With Jesus FreshMarketFriday
Saturday:
FunkyJunkInteriors, OneMoreTimeEvents, SaturdaySparks, TheInspirationGallery, Make My Saturday Sweet
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
LOL! What a good sport he is! I’m sure I would have been laughing so hard I wouldn’t have been able to take a picture. Your house looks beautiful all lit up. I bet that floodlight remote is figured out pretty darn quickly now!
Crystal Pettit says
I love this so much! So classic Griswald! But will you please stop sharing stories like this! It makes me miss you all the more! Blessings to you both! Hope Christmas is magical for you in your new home surrounded by your kids!
Camille says
Oh Patti!!! LOL LOL You just made my day – so OUR house! LOL My Clark owns a remodeling business and you wouldn’t think we would have the levi leg through our ceiling…but we’ve had that on numerous occasions! Because he ‘stays on top of technology’, we seem to have to have the biggest and bestest of all new gadgets. I can SO relate to your too bright lights on the outside!
Thank you for sharing your Griswold life with us! None of us perfect and we might as well laugh about it!
P.S. Your home is beautiful!
shelly says
Thank you so much for sharing your Krank-Griswold Christmas adventure with us. I laughed and I’m currently teared up as well. I absolutely love your writings! Merry Christmas!!
Jennie @ Got My Reservations says
I loved this post and the obvious fondness that went into it. There’s a lot of people who have put their foot through ceilings — Clark is not alone.
Pat says
Patti,
Adorable!!!
Too, too funny!!!
May all your memories in the Krank Home have a happy ending. . .
even if you have to occasionally cover your heads!
Fondly,
Pat
Carol Cook says
I love that real life happens and you just go with the flow.
I just finishing decorating the tree, I baked some strawberry bread, the living room is perfect, the dining room looks perfect and if anyone went into the guest room, they would turn and run out of the house. But, hopefully they wouldn’t run into the garage because it looks as bad as the guest room.
Happy Christmas!
Christine says
I laughed out loud….oh what to do. Either grab a camera or call 911….LOL Too cute!
catherine says
Great story, Patricia! Made me chuckle today! Merry Christmas! Catherine
Emily says
Oh this is funny now that Ive reach the end of the post, LOL! How funny, I love how you were going between the camera and 911, I would have been doing the same thing. So thankful your hubs was not injured, only his pride I’m sure.
I am delighted to meet you!
Jenny says
Haha, too funny! I love Christmas Vacation too, my very favorite Christmas movie. How funny that you got to re-enact some of the movie in your very own attic! 🙂 Hope you enjoy a beautiful holiday season.
Robin ~ All Things Heart and Home says
Oh my friend , you’ve brightened my day- what a delightful story! And your home makes me think of the one in Home Alone…just gorgeous. Our lights out front are on timers and when I go to bed before they go off it drives me NUTS!!! xo 🙂 thanks for linking to Twirl and Take a Bow-
The Style Sisters says
I love your story!! LoL you two are so precious with one another 🙂 it really is a Griswald Krank Christmas story!! I’m glad to hear he didn’t get hurt. Your house looks beautiful!
Karin
Richella Parham says
I love this post! What a great story–and I’m so glad you were able to keep your sense of humor through it all! 🙂
I hope this Christmas is an especially blessed one for y’all. It’ll be fun to hear about your first East Coast Christmas!
Sherry says
Oh my I glad he wasn’t hurt. Thank you for linking up with HSH! Have a very Merry Christmas!
Sherry
Design Furnishings says
I am still laughing, I needed that 🙂 And here I thought we were the only family that could relate to the Griswolds.
Hopeful50 says
Reading this now and laughing. I can hardly…..xoxoxo
Patti says
🙂 🙂 🙂