Woes of a Real Tree....

So, this is our first time with a real tree for Christmas. I know that as a kid, I had one a time or two...but Jim has never had one. So, when our artificial basically died last year we threw it out and decided this year we would get a real one.

I think in retrospect...we should have done a tiny bit of research before hand. I didn't really worry too much, new we needed a stand...but two of my sisters' have been getting real trees for quite some time now and I never heard of them having any major problems. (at least that they told us)

So, family Christmas Tree day was scheduled for last Saturday and we all went....even with some drama before hand ended up having a decent time...though my nephew and his wife did not end up coming to dinner (but that is a long story and one I don't really want to tell.....). Jim and I found a really nice douglas fir and were really excited to set it up and decorate it yesterday with the kids...

I found what I thought was a nice stand.... and it is, but I think it is too small for the tree. Our tree is bigger than we thought and I think that is a HUGE part of the issue. We set it up and got it partially decorated....and it fell. While we were eating dinner. And we lost a couple of ornaments... one that Jim's grandparents bought T for her first Christmas. Sucks...but it happens. So Jim calls my sister and borrows her tree stand.... nice one that you can swivel around and then lock into place when you find the side you want..... bigger stand... we think we are good. So we get it all set up and the tree is almost completely decorated.... and..... it falls. And this time we lose a few cheap ornaments...no biggie...and Jim's orange hunting ornament.... that is a big deal to him and can't really be replaced. :( That, I am sad about for him....

So, we are trying to keep Jay out of the living room because of the glass, T thankfully went back into our room cause I had the TV on and crawled into our bed to watch while we were dealing with the tree (and believe me.... she got LOTS of praise for that choice!) And as I was standing holding the tree from falling, Jim called friends for help and we took all the ornaments and lights off.

With help, the tree is back in the stand I bought....screwed in as far as it can go and we now have fishing line tied from the top to the metal top to the blinds...just to steady it. It is decorated and stayed up all night....and we are hoping it stays that way until at least Christmas Day. And the day after Christmas..... all the ornaments are getting put away by the kids and I and you can bet the first time we can get shopping... Jim and I are going to be looking for a great deal on an artificial tree.... as well as a tree stand for my sister to replace the one we broke.

Ugh.