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Oh Christmas Tree
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Having a Christmas tree every year is a holiday tradition that many families share. Whether you decide to have a real tree or an artificial tree, the brightness it brings into each home is special in its own way.
Deciding on what type of tree to have has been a debate that my husband Steve and I went back and forth with for several years. Our first few Christmases together we would go out and pick a nice real tree.
I loved the feeling real trees brought into our home. From the smell to the natural look, a real tree always seemed to have extra charm.
Then came the year my husband Steve over-watered our tree and left a little water ring stain on the carpet. Believe me when I say that it was not pretty.
On top of that, I was really starting to get tired of dealing with the tangle of lights every year. So I suggested to Steve that we get an artificial, pre-lit tree. That way, we would not have to worry about going to purchase a tree every year, nor would we have to worry about the lights.
It did not go as well as I planned. He absolutely refused to ever have an artificial tree. He had never had an artificial tree, not even during his childhood. He did not want to have a “fake” tree.
So I conceded and the next year, we bought a real tree again, much to my disappointment. But I did not drop the artificial tree campaign and Steve finally gave in.
So for the past two years, we have been decorating our home with the artificial tree and I absolutely love my tree. It is gorgeous with large, white lights with a slight pearl tint that reflects the most beautiful colors off of my ornaments.
I do not even feel like we are missing out from not having that fresh pine scent.
With the purchase of that tree, we also started our own annual holiday tradition. Before we put the tree up each year, we each pick one new ornament for the tree. My son Deven loves picking out his ornament and looks forward to it every year.
After we purchase the ornaments, I write our names and the year on the ornaments we pick. That way, years down the line, we can look at each ornament and remember what year it was from and who picked it. It is something that I also look forward to each year.
Last year was my daughter Cheilin’s first Christmas, so I wanted to pick a very special ornament for her. I found one at the mall that had a snowman family with a dad, mom, son and infant daughter. It could not have been more perfect, and we had each person’s name put on the ornament.
This year, I struggled to find the perfect ornament for Cheilin, something that would scream out at me. Deven tried to suggest a few things, like ballet slippers. But since she does not really have an interest in anything like that yet, I didn’t think it would be meaningful enough.
After the second store, I found the most beautiful golden ornament with the word “Hope,” which is Cheilin’s middle name. I was more excited about finding her ornament than I was my own.
I was very excited to put the tree up this year with all of our new ornaments and am very glad to say that the tree has been no problem with Cheilin who is 15 months old and very mobile.
I had visions of her knocking over the tree or having it topple on top of her, so I am extremely relieved. She likes to look at the ornaments and pretty much just comes over to the tree and stares. I only had to stop her from tugging on the ornaments the night we put up the tree.
As for Steve and our “fake” tree, he has learned to like our tree as well, because it really is a pretty tree and is one we are going to use for many more years to come.
The Christmas tree tradition is very special and meaningful for my family, and I hope it brings as many happy memories for my children as it did for me.
Deciding on what type of tree to have has been a debate that my husband Steve and I went back and forth with for several years. Our first few Christmases together we would go out and pick a nice real tree.
I loved the feeling real trees brought into our home. From the smell to the natural look, a real tree always seemed to have extra charm.
Then came the year my husband Steve over-watered our tree and left a little water ring stain on the carpet. Believe me when I say that it was not pretty.
On top of that, I was really starting to get tired of dealing with the tangle of lights every year. So I suggested to Steve that we get an artificial, pre-lit tree. That way, we would not have to worry about going to purchase a tree every year, nor would we have to worry about the lights.
It did not go as well as I planned. He absolutely refused to ever have an artificial tree. He had never had an artificial tree, not even during his childhood. He did not want to have a “fake” tree.
So I conceded and the next year, we bought a real tree again, much to my disappointment. But I did not drop the artificial tree campaign and Steve finally gave in.
So for the past two years, we have been decorating our home with the artificial tree and I absolutely love my tree. It is gorgeous with large, white lights with a slight pearl tint that reflects the most beautiful colors off of my ornaments.
I do not even feel like we are missing out from not having that fresh pine scent.
With the purchase of that tree, we also started our own annual holiday tradition. Before we put the tree up each year, we each pick one new ornament for the tree. My son Deven loves picking out his ornament and looks forward to it every year.
After we purchase the ornaments, I write our names and the year on the ornaments we pick. That way, years down the line, we can look at each ornament and remember what year it was from and who picked it. It is something that I also look forward to each year.
Last year was my daughter Cheilin’s first Christmas, so I wanted to pick a very special ornament for her. I found one at the mall that had a snowman family with a dad, mom, son and infant daughter. It could not have been more perfect, and we had each person’s name put on the ornament.
This year, I struggled to find the perfect ornament for Cheilin, something that would scream out at me. Deven tried to suggest a few things, like ballet slippers. But since she does not really have an interest in anything like that yet, I didn’t think it would be meaningful enough.
After the second store, I found the most beautiful golden ornament with the word “Hope,” which is Cheilin’s middle name. I was more excited about finding her ornament than I was my own.
I was very excited to put the tree up this year with all of our new ornaments and am very glad to say that the tree has been no problem with Cheilin who is 15 months old and very mobile.
I had visions of her knocking over the tree or having it topple on top of her, so I am extremely relieved. She likes to look at the ornaments and pretty much just comes over to the tree and stares. I only had to stop her from tugging on the ornaments the night we put up the tree.
As for Steve and our “fake” tree, he has learned to like our tree as well, because it really is a pretty tree and is one we are going to use for many more years to come.
The Christmas tree tradition is very special and meaningful for my family, and I hope it brings as many happy memories for my children as it did for me.
