O Christmas Tree...O Christmas Tree...

Even though we live in the big city, we always get our tree in the country. We go on the Sunday after Thanksgiving to a tree farm in my hometown and cut it down ourselves with the help of my parents. Okay, I don't cut it down but Mark does. I must confess that last year we actually picked a pre-cut one at the tree farm but that was the first time we did that and we did search for one to cut first. I love having a fresh tree and I love the first five minutes of searching for the tree...BUT...after that first five minutes...it is cold and it begins to get tedious dragging everyone around and hoping that we can all agree on the perfect tree. Once we've go the tree...it has to be painstakingly strapped to the car (I don't do any of this either) and then we begin the long drive back to Brooklyn. It seems like no matter how early we try and go to the farm...we never get back to Brooklyn before 3 p.m. Once home begins the really strenous part of getting that beautiful tree UP. Moving stuff out of the way in our small living room, dragging it in, centering the tree in the tree stand, arguing about whether it is straight and whether the tree stand is going to work, tightening and re-tightening while begging the children not to be so loud and crazy. Once we've struggled with getting the tree up...we start the lighting process. It becomes a race with time to get it decorated before we all get really, REALLY cranky. I am always happy with the result and I vowed long ago never to get a "fake" tree but I am starting to dread the marathon tree cutting and decorating day. I really have no reason to complain because Mark does 90% of the work and I just try to be a good assistant.

This years tree fits perfect in the spot, is a bit short given our 10' ceilings, but is stunning nonetheless. This is the first year C, P and K really loved the decorating and didn't want it to end.