he's HOW old? Looks like a very nice tree and think of all the pain you've saved!

Of course, you've set it up a few days too early. ;)

-G

I know, I know. He cracks me up. He's super independent and self-sufficient (he's the chairman of the Senate at a local university and is in charge of a 3.6 million $$ budget), but there are some things he's extremely attached to. He's a nut.

(I had Luke when I was 20. I usually tell everyone that he's Carl's son by his first marriage. heh.)

I don't blame you at all. Our family tree choosing excursions were a lot like yours... then the needles all over the house, and dad complaining up a storm about how he had to do all the housework, and mom getting upset because we didn't want to trim the stupid tree we fought so hard for... I think the only member of the family who truly liked our live trees was the cat, because he drank the water out of the pan.

Now that I'm married, I don't think I'll ever buy my family a live tree.

We always used to have a real tree until one year when we had moved to an apartment with forced hot air heat and I noticed the tree was dry as a bone when I took it down, even after making sure it had water all the time. The next year began the artificial era. To compensate I took the kids out in the woods found real tree, cut it down, brought it home and sey it up on our deck with a string of lights. Now we had the best of both worlds! Maybe this could work for you too.

Wow! It's still gorgeous!
And to think of how much money you've saved me! I was about to go shopping but not NOW that you've ruined Christmas! lol

Dear Santa...uh...I mean, Toni,

If I'm real good for the next six months, could you possibly see your way clear to killing my birthday?

Thanks.

damn! ok, so next year when i get a tree. i am paying for you to come decorate it for me. that is an awesome tree. like one you would see in a mall or something.

just a BE visitor saying hi.

--Jon Langdon
http://jonlangdon.blogspot.com

I remember when I was 22. I thought the same thing. I thought the same thing until I was 45, the cat climbed up the tree and knocked it over and we were just about too darn tired to put it all back up. Plus my first hubby was not able to handle a real tree anymore. Bought an artificial in 1999 and it's still been Christmas here. ;-) Hubby #2 is allergic to real trees.

Christmas died here about four years ago. My wife made me do it..yes, we went 'artifical.'

I did a 14 footer one year - I had no idea how big it really was until we had to use CABLES attached to the wall in order to hold it up! That thing was sooooo big around!

I will admit though, it was the most beautiful tree we ever had.

My mom finally caved in this year, too, and bought the first artificial family Christmas tree. We didn't have a big tradition associated with it and none of us are around when it is picked and decorated but it still feels a bit weird. She promised to buy some pine boughs to decorate the house with, so it would still have that nice tree smell, but it isn't quite the same. Meanwhile, at home, I have a pink Barbie tree because I believe if you're gonna go with the fake, go all the way.

Not being a Christian, trees never made a lot of sense to me. My roommate, not a Christian either, wanted a tree. I refused to "kill a tree for Jesus" every year, so she bought an artificial one. And, like you say, it's been around for twelve years and averages out to be about $40 a year for a tree now, and if it weren't for the pine smell, you couldn't tell the difference. Remember, traditions have to start somewhere, you just started a new one.

I grimace every time I watch home videos of my boys fighting over Christmas decorations to hang on the tree. Not a pretty sight. One year, Bring Crosby is singing in the background and my wife calls me an “idiot” for stepping on and crushing a antique Christmas ornament.

A real Norman Rockwell moment.

Duncan

Toni, I'm from BE. I love your site, and your writing style, and your thoughts, and I will recommend it far and wide. Even though you have killed YOUR Christmas and probably MINE, you heartless, snivelling... (Grin; just kidding) I'll be like MacArthur in the Philipines.

-Greg

I love your tree! It's so beautiful. I so want one of those pre-lit trees. The hardest part of decorating the tree to me is putting all those strands of lights.

Great site! I found this post after King-Of-Fools linked to TheSantaFromHell post.