Inky Marina!

One of my favorite holiday traditions is decorating our New Year Tree! Usually a holiday tree is decorated for Christmas, but it's also a Russian tradition to decorate a tree for the New Year holiday. Since my family celebrates New Year instead of Christmas, we call it a New Year tree! My friend Brooke came over for her third year helping me decorate. Brooke and her family celebrate Christmas, but in a secular way. Secular means non-religious, just in case you weren't familiar with the word.


This year is special because my parents let me and Brooke put the fairy lights on the tree by ourselves! It was a lot harder than we thought it would be! The branches kept  poking us. Ouch!


Brooke is really great with putting the lights on. I kept putting the lights all clumped up together, but Brooke helped me make sure they looked even. That's why we're good friends- we help each other!


Spending time with friends and family is my favorite part of the holiday season.  I was really missing my friend Violet, who lives in Utah.  Luckily I was able to call her and hear that she's doing really well and enjoying the holidays! It's a good thing that Brooke is here to cheer me up!


Once the fairy lights were ready, Brooke and I started putting ornaments on the tree. This little snowflake is always my favorite- he's been on my tree since New Year 2008! Wow! We had so much fun putting all the little characters on the tree.


This year Brooke and I tried something a little different. We put little Miffy character toys in the tree to show my Mom how much I love her! Mom spent time living in the Netherlands, where the artist Dick Bruna invented Miffy! Miffy makes her think of that time in her life; she's a special character to her. 


Finally it was time to put the star on the tree! Brooke held me hand to keep me steady as I climbed onto the nightstand to reach the treetop.  Hurrah! The tree looks so beautiful with all the fairy lights, ornaments, and the star.


Brooke loves to share her family's holiday traditions with me. This year, we decided to hang stockings as her family does. We left our stockings hanging from our beds. (Brooke says you're supposed to hang them from the fireplace, but we don't have one.) When we wake up on Christmas morning, they will be filled with treats like small toys or candy.

The holidays are such a wonderful time of year! I'm so glad I have good friends with whom I can celebrate!

P.S. I recently celebrated my birthday! Keep an eye on my blog for a post about my party!