Putting Up the Tree

Setting up the tree usually goes pretty smoothly. Usually. This year as we wrestled to keep the tree up in it's stand it look like usually was not going to happen but then we got it to work.

So up went the star who's lights were all out so down came the star...

...but up went the rest of the lights, the ornaments and the garland. We were all but done putting on the last ornaments.

Dad was tired (thanks to the NyQuil) because he wasn't feeling well so he went to ahead to bed.

I came up stairs for a minute and then I heard a big crash and then the kids yelling that the tree had fallen over. SO MUCH, FOR USUALLY! I was Thankful that Grandma came over to help me clean up the glass and mess form the tree. We got it propped up against the wall and left it till we could get a better stand.

With the new stand secured the tree is finally finished and it only took a week. Matthew and Nic got a hold of my camera and decided to take their pictures with the finished tree.

If they had not we might not have had a finished picture because I was done with that tree. Looking at it now I think it turned out pretty good. Even still after Christmas I am watching the sales for a fake tree!

Cutting Our Tree?

My husband and I had ourselves a good laugh today!

We told the boys we were going to go find and cut our Christmas tree today. They were so excited running around finding hats, gloves, coats, etc. Talking about their game plan for trudging through the snow and searching the woods for the perfect tree.

I few weeks before we promised my dad that we would take out some trees they wanted to get rid of at their house. So naturally Sherman and I thought it was a perfect way to get a free tree. ;)

With the kids loaded in the truck we drove the 3 miles to my parents house and told the kids to pick out their tree. Their reactions were priceless!  I don't think any of them were happy.

Matthew was the least impressed. The others laughed at it as they decided that we were serious...Matthew did not! I just kept saying, "no...No...NOOO!" in disbelief.

In the end I think we ended up with a good tree...

...and a laugh to last a life time!

Tree Hunt

This year just for fun (and because Sherman threw out our fake tree) we decided to go cut our own. A much involved search was on. Not for the trees but everyone's snow gear. There was a lot of questioning from the kids on the necessity of snow gear because we currently have no snow on the ground. I assured them that there would be snow up to their hips(this afforded my quite the look from my eldest son who was also the most vocal in questioning).We were short two pairs of snow suits. We loaded up and went off to the Good Will to see if we could find some, then head out directly. We left the house at about 9:30 making a pit stop to let Gramie's dog out again before the GW. It was a fruitless venture so we turned to Target next door instead. On getting back into the truck we discover that two of the boys felt they really didn't need their heavy coats at all and had left them at home. So after dropping me at the door to Target Sherman headed home for the neglected coats. By the time he got back it was nearly 11:00 and we figured we better grab some burgers for lunch. At the drive up we ordered our lunch of burgers, chicken, and salad only to be told they were not currently serving lunch. Sherman asked when lunched started. The reply was "11:00", less than 5minutes away(Seriously people?). We drove away, laughing, to hit the McDonald's at the other end of town on our way out.
When we got up to the cutting area there was a great deal of debate over where to stop. After dropping off the hitch-hiking snowboarders, several drive by stops and one false stop we found a place where a lot of people where stopping (bad sign, not good). We unloaded, got everyone bundled and booted and started the three hour tour. In snow up to our rears (I know amazing right?) we trudged through the woods. Up, down, back and forth looking for those elusive "good trees" we had seen everyone else pulling out. Tuffer and Matthew having ventured the furthest out said they found a good one and to have dad come and get it. Back up the hill through the deep snow I went to get him where he was sleeping in the snow with Boo on his chest (what the french toast!). I didn't feel too bad then sending him after the boys even though the tree they pulled out was a little lacking and somewhat reminiscent of the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. On the way home the boys and I where trying to convince him to do a "swap out" tree, which is against the rules so we were stuck.
I just hope, like Charlie Brown's Tree, that it will magically be full when all the lights and decorations are on it. At any rate the experience was worth it if only for the memories and laughs. What a Great day!!

Happy Holidays!