picking out the perfect tree

Picking out the perfect Christmas tree to bring home and decorate the day after Thanksgiving has become no doubt one of my favorite all time traditions. Unlike a trip to a shopping mall, we're outdoors, zig zagging between aisles of green, smelling the freshness of nature ... getting sticky with sap... and giggling all the way...



We finally picked one, brought it home and nourished it back to life with lights, and old and new ornaments. The kids' curiosity of this new winter friend raised eyebrows, as they tugged its branches, and inspected its strength to withhold some serious tugging and rearranging of their favorite ornaments...

And every year since '93, I enjoy placing this one, handmade by my dear friend Karen, whose been my best friend since we were both the age of 2...




As well as these tiny wooden ornaments from Germany - given to my family by my late Uncle Jack more than 2 decades ago. It's been hanging on our family xmas tree all these years, and now I get to hang it on mine...



Last year, Ava picked out this one - no wonder as she has such a fascination with matryoshka dolls...



And this year, we bought a few new ones - that has left Noah simply beside himself... this classic car lights up as it sings a beat of Mustang Sally - it's been played so often, that Noah can actually sing along the lyrics...



But the real topper (since we couldn't figure out how to hang our lighted star at the top) is this one - the Christmas Train Express - that actually chugs across a circular track placed near the top of the tree...



After a few hours, we were done - and Aaron only pulled his hair out once. Not bad considering all that went into this [smile]....