Chapter 4 - Giant Wreaths (6 December 2024)

"I'm telling you, Ziva, we need something different this year," Tony reiterated as the family wandered the large lot of live Christmas trees, cut evergreens and mistletoe, artificial trees for both indoors and out, lawn decorations, and assorted other items for making one's yard and home reflect the festivity of the season.

Ziva just shook her head in wonder, "We already have two inflatables, more lights than we need, and a wreath for the front door. What else do we really need? Nothing." She paused as the kids checked out a snowman wire and lights sculpture for outdoors. She glanced over at her big child who was checking out the display of inflatable yard décor. "We do not need another one…"

Tony grinned at his wife, "Never say never Sweetcheeks. There is NO such thing as too many Christmas decorations… ever. See, this Snoopy on the doghouse would make an awesome addition to our inflatable Santa and Christmas tree." He batted his eyes at her and gave the puppy-eyed look that he knew she could not resist.

"SNOOPY!" LJ and Rivka came running over to their Abba. "We have to get this one, Ima," LJ pleaded. "We all love Snoopy."

"It's on sale at forty percent off," Tony added. "We definitely need this!"

"Are you planning to outdo the drive-through display at the old farm?" Ziva joked. When Tony perked up and grinned, she quickly added, "I am just joking."

He grinned even broader, "I am not. That is an awesome idea to transform our front yard into a holiday spectacular. One that people can look forward to driving by each year." He began thinking out loud as the five children warmed up to the idea. "We need big things that are easy to see from the street, like inflatables, lots of lights, maybe some animated animals or scenes…"

"Giant wreaths!" Beth pointed to a display of pre-lit oversized wreaths made from artificial greenery. "Bigger than me!" Some four feet across in multiple colors, some five feet in diameter, some six foot across, and two eight-foot diameter green wreaths filled the side of a large open shed.

All five kids ran over to inspect the large circular decorations. Tony and Ziva followed behind having a discussion on spending and if they wanted to put a limit on how much Tony could spend on outdoor décor each year,

"Ima, these are bigger than me," LJ stood in front of the row of four-foot wreaths. "Some of them are bigger than Tali and Anthony too. Those ones way down there," he pointed to the eight-footers, "are bigger than Abba!"

Ziva turned to her husband who was admiring one of the six-foot wreaths, "And how are you going to get one of those home, may I ask?"

He smiled at her, "Only one? Seriously though, I figured we'd make our selections, pay for them, and then take what we can in the van. I'll come back for the rest with my truck. The six-foot wreaths will fit in the bed. I know they will; the bed is sixty-six point three inches wide and seventy-six inches long. The smaller ones will be an easy fit."

"You have a plan, yes?" she could see the wheels turning in his brain from the look in his eyes.

"Oh, yeah… first, hang a couple, three of the four-foot ones between the trees. Second, maybe two or three five-footers, and two or three six-footers as frames for scenes…"

Tali jumped into the conversation, "You mean like the house across from Uncle Tim and Aunt Delilah? The one with the wreaths framing Santa's workshop and the trains scenes and such?"

"Ex-act-ly!" he grinned and high-fived his eldest. "Our front yard can be transformed into a winter holiday wonderland… ooh, ooh, maybe we can find a way to make some fake snow too!" His eyes lit up in excitement.

Ziva had to admit she too was starting warm up to his plan, "We could get some outdoor plywood and build scenes by making shapes to paint. Or just use the four by eight sheets cut into two squares to paint something on each…"

"I want to have giant presents," Anthony chimed in. He really liked the idea of making their house a visual and lighted Christmas present for all to see.

Rivka tugged on her Abba's coat sleeve, "We need a sign that says 'Merry Christmas' too. A big sign with lights that spell out the words."

And so began the annual tradition of decorating the DiNozzo front yard… each year added more decorations until, in 2040, Ziva challenged her husband to find a place to put anything new without removing an existing item. He had to admit that he could not find any more room for new decorations.