O Christmas Tree, We Shall Get Thee, Eventually…

And we did, but what an ordeal!  Every time we went to go get the tree, something came up, or there was a really good reason not to go at that particular moment.  The best reason that we did not get a tree one evening when we meant to goes as follows:

After about 3 failed attempts to get in the car and drive to get a tree, we decided that we wanted to go get a quick bite for dinner and on the way home swing by Home Depot, play the Christmas Tree Lotto (more on that in a minute) and head for home to decorate and drink hot chocolate.

We had been wanting to go to Chick-Fil-A for a while after hearing so many southerners rave about it, so we decided to combine the 2 errands. After locating the closest one we set off.  In rush hour traffic.  WITH the rush hour traffic.  A normally 20 minute drive took about an hour.  And on the way back, it took another hour.  Needless to say, we didn’t end up having enough time to get a tree because we are kind of Nazi-ish about bedtimes (usually).  But let me tell you, the 2 hour drive time was worth it!  We all loved it, even Aubrey, who unfortunately had to eat mooshed up cooked veggies instead of juicy tasty chicken.  Which she likes.

check out the cowlick on that boy!

 Num Nums

Well, there you have it.  The reason we didn’t get a tree on the evening we ate Chick-Fil-A.

Now back to the Christmas Tree Lotto.  This yuletide tradition originated with my parents who are very practical people and don’t like to waste much time with unnecessary details.  They rarely get caught in analysis paralysis, so it naturally follows that finding a Christmas tree would be no exception.  Ryan and I have continued on with the Lotto in our family because it just works.  No one gets upset, we ALWAYS get a great tree, and it's in and out of the tree place in about 5 minutes or less, depending on how fast the saw guy is cutting.

Here’s how it works:  You drive to Home Depot.  You locate the type of tree you want, either Douglas or Noble (we choose Douglas, they’re more in our price range), figure out the size (we prefer the 6 to 7 feet ones), grab one that is still bundled up, making sure the top is star worthy (in other words one that our star will work with), have the guy take a little off the bottom, pay, and you’re outta there!  Quick as a flash we have a tree and are headed for home.

Our tree this year is great, there’s a little bald spot, but it’s nothing an ornament or some lights can’t fix and you’d never even know now that it’s all spruced up.

Fantastico!  We’ve never had an argument about a silly tree, we always seem to get great ones, what could be better? 

Even Aubrey was in on the decorating fun!

I also made a nifty wreath with the leftover branches from the bottom.  It was my first time so no snickers from the peanut gallery.

Merry Christmas!