All I Want for Christmas is my Christmas Tree

The tree is my favorite part of Christmas! Our first year of marriage, I tried to convince my husband to get an artificial one because that’s what I grew up with and I liked being environmentally friendly. However, he’s a real tree guy, so we got a permit and went into the forest, chose our tree, cut it down, brought it home, decorated it with our mismatched and plastic ornaments, and even though the ornaments weren’t too fancy our tree totally was… I felt like it was an experience I could look forward to every year—a different tree every year reflecting the changes in our family. I got hooked to the real thing.

There is something magic about welcoming a beautiful part of the outdoors into your home. The air feels fresh again. The smell is so lovely. I smile when sap gets on my hands and they smell like **Christmas** for days… and the fun of taking the kids out to pick a tree while drinking hot cocoa, hauling it on the car, getting all excited about setting it up, watering it every day and watching it guzzle the liquid just like the beautiful living thing it is. And of course, the kids helping to decorate it! One year there was a blizzard and we had babies in the car, so all of us except my husband stayed in the car for a complete surprise of what we brought home; even that was fun! More expensive? Definitely. More work? Probably. So worth it! My house could be falling apart, but I look at that tree and my heart is filled with joy.

Finding Our Tree

We visited a tree lot up north that was recommended last year, but trees we always got for $50 were $80! Jer and I were both kind of sad driving home empty handed, but we did a last-ditch google search and found a highly reviewed tree farm just out of someone’s backyard near our home and loved the selection. We normally go for shorter fuller trees, but this year I wanted a completely different look—to forego our tree topper and get a very tall skinny tree with delicate branches that would touch our vaulted ceiling. I love it! Aesthetically it fills the room and feels like you’re in a forest when you’re sitting next to it.

With the boughs from the bottom of the tree, I made a little crown for my favorite chandelier. This small touch makes the dining festive even without flowers on the table.

It’s a simple greenery year for us in decorating! The kitchen now has the garland that we normally frame the window with. I love the change, especially with the beautiful white cabinets my husband did this summer!

This is my adorable baby checking out the tree after Daddy put up the lights. I hope you are filled with as much wonder and joy as we are over here the rest of the year! Merry Christmas 🙂