Christmas Tree Adventure

Our friends asked us if we wanted to go to a tree farm with them to cut down our own Christmas tree. We declined. I love the thought of going out and selecting the perfect family Christmas tree and then cutting it down ourselves. However, the snow would be up to Jude's waist in spots and we have a newborn. Those factors alone would significantly decrease the Christmas spirit. It was also bitter cold today, so off to Home Depot we went. I'm not sure why we thought they would have trees... do they usually? Also no trees to be seen at Canadian Tire (at least where they have been in past years). Not a great start. To Superstore we went. Kids unloaded, we head for the fenced in area outside the store. While Jon and I try to figure out how to tell if a tree wrapped in nylon mesh is a fresh and not a funky shape Abby complains about the cold and Jude throws himself down on the ground for no apparent reason. Jon and I continue to discuss the trees when Abby announces that she needs to go pee. I close my eyes and take a deep breath... this is not the fun family outing I had invisioned. Into the store we go. Jude dodges around shoppers heading to their cars with their carts with Daddy closeby. I have Jordan in one hand and have Abby's hand in the other. After peeing and washing her hands, Abby decides twice that there are still bubbles on her hands and needs to rinse again.

We find Daddy and Jude, pay for a tree and then head to the van. We realize that there is no twine with which to tie the tree to our roof rack (isn't that usually provided?), so we debate going back home to retrieve something to secure the tree. I didn't really want to do that, so Jon hung with the kids and the tree and waited while I ran into the store for some twine. It turned out to be useless so we just stuck the tree between the kids. So, the tree is home. It's not yet up, although Jon did trim the bottom off it for us. I think getting it up and decorated will likely take all weekend. It will be beautiful!!