The Tree, v.2010
Saturday morning, after breakfast, we headed out to our tree farm of choice to procure the Perfect Christmas Tree. The place where we go is in an area that's not very sheltered by anything that would cut down the force of the wind, and while we start off as a happy go-lucky family, we usually end the excursion as popsicles. This year we were determined to be warm, so over the course of five minutes we bundled up the kids to within an inch of their lives, then spent the next twenty minutes trying to locate our own snowpants, scarves, boots, and various other winter wardrobe paraphernalia while the kids slowly melted away in our living room. When we finally arrived at the tree farm, the weather was stunningly beautiful and nary a cold breeze blew across our exposed noses, and while it normally takes us an hour and a half of trudging through bitter, and cold, and snowy in order to find our tree, this year we found it five minutes after we got to the place. It was so fast, we decided to look around at other trees, but after a very quick two minutes, during which Dave and I came to our senses, we decided not to tempt fate and high-tailed it back to The One, which Dave had very carefully marked with a pile of rocks.
Henry could hardly wait to decorate it. He was literally chomping at the bit. We got the tree set up, then broke briefly (and agonizingly, depending on which of us you were) for lunch, after which Henry and I put the lights up. After the lights, Dave took a nap, I rested on the couch, and Henry very graciously let us. When he couldn't take it anymore and managed to rouse us, Dave and Holly went out to procure food for our traditional tree decorating meal (mini-wieners, cheese, crackers, sparkling apple cider) and Henry and I got started on the ornaments. By the time dinner made it into the house, we were almost done. This was the first year that Henry seemed to be really curious about the ornaments and where they came from and what they were. We had a good time. Dave, for his part, was extremely pleased he came in after it was mostly done. (My Dad is now officially jealous of Dave.)
A few weeks ago Henry and I went to our town's tree-lighting ceremony. Carols are sung, "The Night Before Christmas" is read by a Professor from the University, and the town's enormous tree is lit. It made quite the impression on the young man. So much of an impression that we now have a tree lighting ceremony every day. Sometimes twice. I get to read the poem and Henry gets to plug in the tree. It's very serious business. At this rate, I'm going to have "The Night Before Christmas" fully memorized by the night before Christmas. Perhaps sooner.