It’s December. The last month of 2010 started this morning. Christmas is just around the corner. Next Tuesday is Glee’s Christmas episode, although the Christmas album was released weeks ago. ABC Family has been airing holiday movies for months and three children’s Christmas specials aired last night. Christmas lights have been glowing on houses all around and I know a number of people who have finished putting up all the Christmas decorations.
The last year I fully decorated for Christmas was 2007 when we had Pumpkin and Gemini. I don’t remember why I didn’t deck our halls in 2008. In 2009 Jessie and Giggles were too much of a handful. This year I want to decorate, but I have a toddler and a baby again.
In California we always had live trees. The last Christmas we spent in California before moving to Texas was the year that Turtle climbed the tree and knocked it over. Trees in Texas were so expensive that we decided to go artificial.
Live trees smell good and are traditional. They are a fire hazard, though. It’s easy to put the tree out on the curb and be done until next year. An artificial tree goes back in its box. Ours are pre-lit, which makes decorating a snap. I think we have three or four of them. We bought them in after-Christmas sales when they were really cheap. They look real too.
If you’re going to buy a live tree this year, make sure you get a good tree for your money. Pull a branch toward you and the needles should stay on the tree. Knock the tree to the ground and, again, the needles should stay on the tree. Shake out the tree and check that there aren’t any holes. Your tree will be beautiful and should last through the season.