We are getting our Christmas tree today! I've always loved Christmas... It's the only holiday I decorate for and love everything about it. The smell of the tree... The lights giving off a soft glow in the living room at night... Everything just feels so cozy with all the decorations out. Let's not forget the rum and egg nog!
A week after Dylan proposed (8 years ago!), I was so excited to get our first Christmas tree together. We didn't have any money to decorate it, so Dylan said we should just wait till the following year to to get one. He could see the disappointment on my face... A few days later when I returned home from work, in our living room stood the most beautiful 10 foot tree. Although it was naked, it was the most beautiful Christmas tree I had ever had. The following Christmas I was pregnant with Aidan and we were staying with his parents while building our new house. Even though there was a foot of snow out, and we didn't have our own living room to put a tree in, we made our way out with my in-laws to help them pick the perfect tree; and so the tradition began. It's important to me that this day is perfect. And if you have children, you will understand that it is damn near impossible to have the perfect tree getting experience. Throw in Dylan (who always thinks our ceiling is higher than it is), myself who requests a tree that has stiff branches that are spaced enough to hang ornaments, but not so spaced that it looks like a Charlie Brown tree, and two kids that will inevitably complain that they are too cold, or they have to pee, or they are hungry, etc.
Two years ago was the worst tree getting experience in our history. Money was tight and so when I heard about this tree farm not too far from our home that offered pony rides, hot chocolate for the kids and all trees were $20, I had a small hope that we could still get the perfect tree! Compared to the $100+ we were used to spending, I was ecstatic! This was going to be the most magical day yet! In my excitement, I rushed the kids into the car. It didn't matter that I had no address for this "blissful" tree farm, I knew we would find it! We drove around for awhile in the area where I had been told this tree farm existed with no luck. My hopes of having the "perfect" day were rapidly coming to an end. We settled on the next tree farm we found... and as we unpacked the kids, I realized I had forgotten their winter coats, gloves and hats. No worries! We were going to find the perfect tree in minutes! As the wind whipped our faces, and the kids began to whine that they were freezing, Dylan and I started to argue. It was my fault for forgetting the kids clothing! Why didn't I have an address for this tree farm! The tree doesn't have to be perfect! The day was ruined... and as we loaded our $20, lop-sided Douglas fir tree with droopy branches on top of the van, all I could think was, "I am going to salvage this day. I am going to have a glass of wine and decorate this tree and make it beautiful. I am going to put on Mariah Carey's Christmas album (even though it kills Dylan to listen to it) because, dammit, it is going to be a good day"! We got the tree home, set up and as I was getting the ornaments out, without asking, Dylan brought me a glass of wine. "I think you need this", he said with a cheeky smile. I slowly began decorating the tree and it was starting to look decent. I was so wrapped up in the moment that I had totally forgot about the glass of wine. Where had I put it? "Dylan? Do you know where I put my glass of wine"? His face turned red. "Don't even tell me you drank it", I said in my serial killer voice. We literally had a dollar in the bank, and the bottle of wine had been a gift to me from his parents, and I had saved a glass for today. He doesn't even drink white wine! His silence said it all. It was the final straw. "NEXT YEAR HAD BETTER BE THE MOST !#@@$#^%^ING MAGICAL TREE GETTING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE OR I'M GOING TO DO IT.... I WILL GET A FAKE TREE", I screamed! Looking back now it is hysterical, but in that moment I wanted to start searching the classifieds for rentals where I was going to move when I packed up my belongings and left, lol!
Last year really was the most magical tree-getting experience of my life. It made up for the previous year 10x over. My sister-in-law had gone to a tree farm the year before and she promised it would not disappoint. As we walked through the entrance, we were greeted by a "helper" who handed us a saw, explained where we would find the tree that met my criteria. Carols were piped through speakers in the fields that added to the Christmas cheer. Afterwards, we were treated to live carollers and even Santa himself was there for the children to have their pictures taken with (with our own cameras at no extra cost). As we sat around the fire they had burning with hot chocolate in hand, I could not have been any happier.
As we set out today, on what I hope will be another "perfect" day, I'm reminded of my goal for this month's Happiness Project... Stay in the moment... enjoy the day for what it is. Whether it's perfect or not is not important. This day will be perfect, regardless. I am spending the day with my family, and coming home to a warm house. Mariah Carey is on stand-by, and of course the all important glass of wine! Today will be perfect in it's imperfection. :)
