Picking Out the Christmas Tree

Two weeks after Eddy and I were wed, it was Christmas.  We had a real tree that year but for many years after that first Christmas; we had a fake tree.  Our fake tree was the most painful to put up it would scratch you and often draw blood.  I really disliked that cheap tree. As we were taking that tree down one year, I decided I had had enough and instead of putting it back in the shed we got rid of it.  So the next Christmas rolled around and we didn't have a tree.   That year we got a live tree.  I really liked having a live tree although it was quite small since little trees are much cheaper.

Since then, we have always had a live Christmas tree.  We actually put up two full size trees, one in the living room (real)  and one in the family room (fake but a nicer fake we got it two years ago).  I am not sure why we have two trees but when I was a teenager my family started having two trees.  One tree is a fancier tree and the other is more homey.  This year we have a Tractor Supply Store in town that sells surprise trees (all the trees are just one price $24.99).  What is a surprise tree you might ask?  Well it is a tree you can't open or see until you get home and unwrap it.  You don't know how big it will be or what it will look like it.  I do like the element of surprise.

I often imagine we will go up the mountain and cut our own tree but it has yet to happen.  Instead, we loaded up the whole family and went to Tractor Supply.   Once there we began to judge the trees looking for just the right one.  Quinton and Declan began fighting.  It was very annoying.  Quinton, the big brother, likes to tease and pester quite a bit.  They began shoving and carrying on and nearly had to walk home.  Luckily, they found some shred of Christmas spirit and settled down and we were able to pick out our tree.  Meanwhile Zany and Archy were running around all crazy and I was reminded why I don't like to take the whole family to stores.

We decided to go with the tallest and heaviest tree we could find.  When we got home we opened it up and it was taller than our ceiling and about four feet around, huge and lovely.  This was our first time getting a Fraser Fir and it smells divine.   A bit of trimming here and there and it was perfect.

Is it smart to fight at Christmas with Santa watching?

Declan taunts Quinton

Quinton enjoys every second of the battle

Which tree shall it be?

To be continued  . . .