Picking out a tree

This past Sunday we went out to pick out our Christmas tree. I'm not sure why having a real tree is so important to me. For some reason, every year that's what I want. I don't know if it's the amazing smell that hits me as I walk through the door, or the fact that it's not 'perfect'...because it's REAL. I hate pulling a tree out of a box. It feels so...un-Christmas to me :) I was appalled when my mother bought a FAKE tree. We had ALWAYS gotten real trees! I've gotten over it, though-especially since her tree is always amazingly beautiful (and she always seems to have a candle burning that smells like Christmas). I know that at some point we will join the masses (and the Maass'....HA! That's for you, Christine) and buy a pre-lit, store-in-the-box tree, but until that day comes, I will thoroughly enjoy picking out my tree, and smelling that wonderful scent. I don't even mind sweeping up the needles...every day until the tree comes down...and for a few weeks after that.

ALL THAT SAID, this was our trip to find our tree. We stopped at one place, and while the trees were GORGEOUS, they were also quite expensive. SO, we opted to try out a Home Depot tree...I'll let you know if it was worth it to buy a tree at half the price of the expensive ones :) Eli enjoyed looking-and feeling-the trees. This picture makes me laugh, because Edgar had rolled up Eli's sleeves. Edgar ALWAYS rolls up his sleeves, and it struck me as funny that he did the same for his son :)

Our tree!

Edgar loading it up

I KNEW we saved that obnoxiously ugly curtain for something.

This picture is for Jennifer...and her sister Tracy. When we were leaving Home Depot we noticed this newly married couple :)

We had fun picking out the tree. Edgar did most of the work-which is pretty typical. He's off the hook when it comes to decorating, though :)