O Christmas Tree!

After delaying getting a Christmas tree for several weeks we finally decided that we HAD to get one if we were going to have one for Christmas morning. So, we went out looking and found what we thought to be an 'okay' tree. The only problem was...we had waited for so long that the tree (which had been sitting in an outdoor lot) was covered in snow which had frozen solid to many of the branches. We decided that wasn't going to deter us and so we bought it, shoved it into the back of Scott's SUV and drove the 3 blocks home.

When we arrived we carefully placed a tarp in the middle of our living room with the tree stand in the center. Scott carefully brought the tree in and instantly the temperature in our house dropped 10 degrees. That tree was FREEZING! Scott's poor hands were going to fall off from carrying the frozen trunk. We finally got it into the stand so it would start to settle and as we were cleaning up residual needles we began to hear it start to rain...well, what we thought to be rain. In fact, it was the snow beginning to melt and drip on the tarp. We covered the tarp with towels in hopes of soaking up all of the water and avoiding a flood. Surprisingly, it worked! Within 2 days we had a tree that now looked 'pretty good' and was ready to be decorated.

{finishing the lights}

We realized that because it was already the 13th we needed to get the tree completely decorated in one night (something that was impossible last year seeing we put about 35 strands of lights on). This year we went a little more mellow with the lights but it actually looked 'good' by the time we were done.

{Aspen is not allowed in the living room so this is where she sat during the entire process. She slowly slid her two front paws onto the forbidden carpet to lay her head on them in her official pouting stance.}

Lastly we put on all of the ornaments. Scott's family had a traditon growing up that his mom would buy each of the kids a Steinbach ornament every year. She would then write their name and the year on it. When they got married, each child got to take their ornaments to start their own tree. Scott and I have decided to continue doing this tradition and still get one ornament every year to share. Since we should be together from now through eternity, we are thinking our tree would be pretty full if we got one each every year. ;) When kiddos come along we will get each of them their own.

{adding the star!}

After all of the ornaments were placed, the floor was vaccummed and the star was placed on top. The tree skirt was added and presents followed.

{a celebration kiss}

And well, in my opinion, the tree turned out 'great'! What do you think?