I enjoy putting up holiday decorations as much as the next person. It was really quite an event when the kids were younger. In fact, I have some video footage of all of us decorating the tree one year.
But since we moved to the country, for whatever reason, my husband refuses to allow me to put up an artificial tree. The result is that after many years of dealing with real trees, I’ve made it my mission the past 3 or 4 years to get away with not putting up a tree at all.
I have to say it – I HATE real trees. OK, maybe hate is too strong a word. I can’t stand having them in my house. There. That sounds better.
I get tired of the sap, of having to climb under the prickly thing every day to water it, of having to drag it and all its dried out pine needles halfway through the house after Christmas, of plugging up the vacuum cleaner every year with all those pine needles. In fact, Rick has to unclog the vacuum nearly every year, so you’d think he would get tired of it, as well.
Some years, I actually succeeded until Christmas eve day. Then Rick would finally corner me and ask why no tree. Last year I got tricky and claimed there was no room because of the dog’s recliner (long story). Score! No tree last year.

This year…. yes, I really want to put up a tree. EVEN if it means putting up a real one, with all its hassles. I feel this overwhelming need to make the house as absolutely Christmassy as I can. Josh gets to come home for two weeks for the holidays before returning to finish boot camp, and I want to do it for him. I just don’t know when we might get to enjoy another Christmas together.
The tree is now sitting in the garage. I’ve got to prepare a spot in the house tomorrow. Enough egg nog and Christmas videos – I will MAKE it happen.