O.K., this one is perfect, because next Saturday, I’ll be speaking on the topic of Building Christmas Traditions at Apple Valley Church in Neenah. Yikes!!! Thanks, Patty, for this very timely meme!

Anyway, we always, always, always, get a real tree that we cut ourselves. That’s the unbreakable rule. Last year we had the most gorgeous tree. Too bad that place went out of business.

Jonalyn and I last year. Look at the snow!! Alyssa was coming down with strep throat, so she didn’t go with us. I’m sad. It was a great place.

Wasn’t it a great tree? I think it was among the best we’ve ever had. Hey! We still had carpeting!

We all have to help pick out the best one. Some years it’s “Brian’s tree” or “Alyssa’s tree”. No snow that year but it looks like it was cold!

Now that Brian is older, he gets the job of cutting down the perfect tree. You have to be careful. They look smaller in the field than they do in your house. The first year, we had a massive tree!

Then Doug gets to heft the thing and carry it back to the car. When we have snow, he can drag it. We’re getting our tree on Saturday, but it looks like he’ll have to carry it this year – no snow in the forecast 🙁

Getting our tree is one of my favorite traditions. It really feels like Christmas when we have it up in the house. Can’t wait for Saturday! I’ll post pictures of what our tree looks like this year and what adventures we have cutting it.

To see other Christmas traditions, please visit Patty’s blog.