DIY Pallet Advent Tree

there's something really flipping fabulous about finding exactly what you were looking for - in the form of a "pin", and actually making it. That said, it is almost ALWAYS a lot flippin' harder to bring a "pin" to fruition than it looks, am I right!?  mygad, pulling apart a pallet is a  bitch, I mean, a real pain in the ass, something I could NOT have done without Rhett.  No way, no how, couldn't have done it.  My pallet Advent Tree dreams would have been crushed like an ant in the path of my walk into the house if it weren't for Rhett. i.e. it wouldn't have stood a chance. I owe my man big time for this one.  It was while that man of mine was working up a sweat, driving screw drivers between the one thousand and one nails {seriously who knew how many big ol dirty nails were required to hold together a pallet??} and those old pallet boards, to create a gap in between the boards so he could pry with all his might, that I, as I stood on top of that pallet, creating "resistance", was filled to the brim with so much... love and appreciation and fulfillment and gratitude and happiness.

This Advent Tree has been 6 years in the making.  Tristen has always wanted one, and I have never done it.  Lately, I've been doing it.  And I feel so much gratitude to Rhett for that.  I've been on the single mom road a loong time, and we can do anything we need to do, Yes.  BUT.  Given the right partner, it is so much easier and lighter and funner and wonderful to have someone to share the duties, someone to help, someone to provide Man-Power, and someone to be a champion with.  And we are champions, because of this tree.  As I type, Tristen has begged 2 times to open another present tonight, and has endless questions and guesses about what the little presents could possibly be, and... it's magical for me.  Simple and stupid as it may be, this Advent Tree has been an "A-Ha" for me.  It's a "I feel like a good mom" moment.  And those moments have been very few for me. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to have this moment Babe.

Deets on the Tree:  4 pallet boards, 2 cuts [rhett used a hand pwer saw], 5 screws [yep, only 5.  no, it's not real sturdy and yes, the boards easily swivel on one screw, but it kinda gives a charlie brown advent tree effect, and i like it ;)], thumb tacks to hang presents on, 15 presents cause Birdie will be here 15 days in December before going to spend the break with his dad, and a simple printed paper + past xmas tins the hoarder in me couldn't toss out + brown kraft paper [could have been paper grocery bags] + stickers + red and green twine that i had on hand & fifteen reallly fun little presents, that so far, he loves.  ;)

Blog the pin came from, with much better photos and "how-to": here

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