Merry Christmas and Our 2011 Tree Story
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and get to spend it with people you love.
Through this year, I have enjoyed getting to know so many of you and I’ve learned so much from all of your beautiful blogs.
Of course, I have also enjoyed sharing my projects with you and I’m looking forward to more blogging adventures in 2012.
I will be around next week so I will try to post as much as I can. I am sure the kids will give me some free time while they are caught up playing with their new toys.
For now, I will give you a peak at my Christmas Tree.
Every year, we have a tradition to buy a real Christmas Tree. According to my husband it’s not Christmas without that “real tree smell” in the house.
And what would Christmas be without weeks of vacuuming up needles afterwards!
Normally, we go to a Christmas Tree nursery and buy a pre-cut one off the lot. This year my husband’s best friend recommended a place where you pick a tree and they cut it down, pack it up and load it onto your car.
In the past we tried doing the cut-your-own-tree thing but we had to actually cut it ourselves and tie it on the car ourselves. I remember driving home with my hand out the window to make sure it didn’t fly off the roof! (Like I would be strong enough to hold on to a 6 foot tree traveling at 55 miles per hour!)
Anyway, I liked the idea of a fresh cut tree….Maybe the needle situation wouldn’t be that bad.
Anyway, who knows how long the pre-cut ones are sitting there on the lots!
So we took the journey to this new tree place…which was out in the middle of nowhere!
It was cold out so we kind of ran through quickly and when my almost 8 year old said, “How about this one?”
We said fine and ran to get the guys to cut it.
Of course, my son was quite thrilled that he was the one who chose the tree. Although, I didn’t get a very good look at it.
Now apparently, when you buy a tree off a regular lot, they are nicely trimmed and ready to take home.
Well, not when you cut one down.
As soon as we got home my husband started in with “We can just spin it around so the good side shows.”
(What good side?)
Of course we had to act all happy with it so my son’s feelings wouldn’t be hurt.
But as the tree settled more, branches seemed to come out of nowhere and things were sticking in all directions.
We trimmed off some but it didn’t help the fact that the tree was crooked and kind of lumpy looking on top!
Oh and did I mention that I let my kids decorate it?
Have you ever seen more clusters of decorations before?!!
Check this section out…
Obviously, we should have cut off this branch because the weight of all the ornaments made it stick out more!
Usually, after the boys go to bed, I scramble to correct the ornament cluster areas.
But not this year.
Since they were so proud of their work, I left everything exactly as they put it. They even set up a train track below.
In previous years I have tried to put up two trees; a family tree in the family room and MY tree in the living room.
This year, there just wasn’t enough time for my tree. So, we have our family tree.
Even in the dark you can see how crooked it is!
But I must say, the tree has character and I’m so proud of my boys.
Honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing!
Who decorated your tree this year?
Oh, aren't you a sweet mommy. The tree looks fine in your pictures. We bought a real tree this year and my hubby fussed about it. Of course, he doesn't have to help do anything with the artificial tree except put the top part in. I do everything myself. He had to put this one in the stand. Poor thing. It is so dried out now because it was pre cut. When the kids were young we cut our own on a tree farm and they stayed fresh longer. This one will probably come down the day after Christmas.Have a very Merry Christmas!!
I wouldn't change a thing either. I think your tree is beautiful. Merry Christmas.
It's a beautiful tree and you will share tons of memories in years to come with this tree and going to pick the "perfect" one and cutting it down. But you sure did have me chuckling with delight. LOL…I have some horror stories about fresh Christmas trees which is why we have a fake tree or fakes trees I should say. 🙂 One year we went to a Christmas party and the guy had the most beautiful and perfect Christmas tree I had ever seen. Turns out he had wired branches in to make it look that perfect! 🙂
I love your story. Cherrish these moments and memories to come. I have had a fake tree for the last 15 years and I think next year I want a real tree. The only thing is we dont have tree farms in Florida, so Home Depot will probably have to do. Cutting down the tree and all that sounds fun. I wish you and your family a very merry Christmas.
Your tree looks beautiful! My family and I went to a tree farm to cut down our very own christmas tree also for the first time. Funny thing is, I think we are the only people who walked around this great tree farm for 2 1/2 hours and walked out without a tree. Yes, we are a little insane! Either a tree was too big, too small, too wide or not the right type, before we knew it the place was closing. Did I mention, it took us 2 hours to get to the farm and 2 hours back home! Meanwhile, we ended up getting our tree at the same local market as always. After all that, I love my tree too! Have a very merry christmas and a happy new year!
Crooked or not I think your tree is fabulous! :)Have a very Merry Christmas!!
Shelley, this is such a special story. I love your tree!
Your tree looks beautiful, Shelly… and I love your little story, too. I wish you and your family a very merry Christmas & a happy new year! Look forward to keeping in touch in 2012!*Jutta*
Your Christmas decor is beautiful!! Merry Christmas! 🙂
Merry Christmas !!! have a nice day ~ =DRegards,www.lonelyreload.com (A Growing Teenager Diary) ..
I think your tree is beautiful and what memories you will cherish through the years! The mantle area is very pretty, too. I have enjoyed meeting you in blogland this year and hope you consider me a blogging friend. I'm sure you have big plans for tomorrow. Wishing you and your family a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!! By the way, we used to cut our tree from our own property so we have had many crooked trees and worse. We go artificial now but I put an evergreen scented air freshner in the middle of the tree to give the effect of the fragrance of a real tree. Not bad.—–Shannon
So glad to have "met you" this year! I hope y'all had a wonderful Christmas and wish you all the best in the year to come! xo
What a lovely tree. I hope you had a great Christmas and all the best for a healthy and joyful new year!