Timber!!!!!

And it's down! The tree, that is. Well, actually it is back up now, but it was down. Fully decorated and boom - on the floor. It started out much less auspiciously...

This year we decided to go to one of those cut-your-own Christmas tree lots. It was very fun. Jordan was sick, so she couldn't go, but the rest of us bundled up to search for the perfect tree. We were very cold, but that did not stop us from meticulously walking up and down every row of trees among the 86 acres to find the tree that was meant to be ours. We immediately set out for the biggies (since we have ceilings open to the second story) knowing that we wanted a tall tree. It's funny how they don't look all that big in the forest. Our first indication that we had selected a "really big one" was that Bryan and I together had a difficult time dragging the thing to the ailse where the wagon would pick us up. Actually, now that I am thinking about it, we should have known when the hand saw was taking forever to cut through the trunk. At any rate, once we climbed on the wagon, our tree precariously teetering on the edge, the customers around started making comments, specifically, "Wow, that's a big one!" The owners of the farm said they would not be able to "shake and wrap" the tree as it was so large. Nevertheless, it was our tree and it was perfect.

Once we got it home, we realized that our meager tree stand was no match for our glorious tree. Since we were in the middle of a major winter storm (that gave us six inches of snow that has not only not melted, but has now grown to about 10 due to more snow) we couldn't get the tree stand that night. We went to Home Depot (the only store in Sheboygan) and purchased the largest stand they had. Once home, we managed to get the tree in the stand (don't ask me how!) and filled it with water. We noticed that it was leaning a little, so we even weighted it down on one side. On to the decorating.

Wouldn't you know it, we had no ladder tall enough to decorate the darn thing! Off to Home Depot again. Largest reasonably priced ladder purchased. Still not tall enough, but we decided to make do. Morgan and I did all the decorating of the tree. We used 20 strands of lights, had to climb on the bookshelf, incorporated some incredible acrobatic team-work, but we did it. It took us 3 hours, and the tree was magnificent (if I do say so myself). Even Jordan who is usually negative about everything said how pretty it was. We enjoyed our beautiful creation for just 2 days before it all came crashing down. Literally.

The story from here on out is typical. I am sure that many of you have had this experience. The mess, the broken ornaments, and a party in 3 days...and of course it happened at 9:30 at night! Long story short, we ended up bungeeing the tree to the bookshelf! The good news is that you can't see the bungee, so the tree will look nice for the party. The bad news is that I still haven't "fixed" the tree (lights and ornaments) and the party is in 2 days! So maybe it won't be pretty for the party after all! I was going to take pictures of the tree per my mom and Sandy's request, but it just doesn't look the same, so forget that!

All I can say is that this Clark Griswold moment has been way too much work!! But anyone getting gifts from me, no worries, no presents were harmed in the incident!!