Family Fun Night

I'm thinking about taking my sons to pick out a tree. For the past 5 years I've always waited until later in the month when the prices go down, but the trees are always a little dry. My younger son asked me if we could get one early this year. I think he should help me get it.

When I was growing up the night of pre-Christmas preparation I enjoyed most was helping my parents choose the tree. We always went at night, I guess that's when they had time. We spent a lot of time looking and I always chose the best tree. My dad always tried to negotiate a better price. My brother helped carry it to the car. It was a family outing that became a tradition.

At home my brother would help hold the tree while my dad sawed off the bottom. My mom and I would prepare the tree stand and location. We all worked together to make sure it was straight, fill the stand with water and put the sheet around the bottom. That was a family fun night for us many years ago and I've tried to  do something similar with my kids as well.

A day or two later we would begin to decorate the tree, and that would be another family fun night. So I think I'll go look in the attic now to find those boxes of decorations, and maybe tonight or tomorrow we'll go looking for that special tree that will fill the house with sweet pine aroma.

How do you decorate for the holidays? Is there something special or different about your family traditions?