Oh Christmas Tree

**I wrote this post over a week ago but then had picture issues.  I'm leaving it as is and just adding some more pictures**

 

 

We finally got our tree today!  The girls, all three of us, have been waiting not so patiently. :)

Years ago I saw this and thought it would be nice if we had the right space for something like this...

 

 

We have the round table, big windows, but not really the space to have a regular tree and something like this.

 

 Our tradition has been to go to the local tree farm just down the road and cut our own tree.  It's a beautiful place with animals to pet, horses pulling wagons, hot chocolate, a huge slide.  It's really an awesome place to go.  The down side is, it's no bargain.  In fact, we realized one year that the cost of cutting our own tree there was more than double what we could get one for at the local box stores.  But we love to support this local business.  So..... 

 

So this year I started lobbying for a table top tree.  Cameron really doesn't care too much, but I had to convince the girls. 

 

I showed them the above picture, they weren't impressed, but the next two got them on my side.

 

 



So off to the farm we went.  We had a great time, took some pictures and realized that even the smallest trees for sale were still quite pricey and a little too big to (safely) go on a table.  As much as we love to support local businesses, our own budget had to come first.

So off to the box store we went and got our tree.

 

It didn't take long at all to decorate.  That was a disappointment to some and a bit of relief to others.  It was a bit of a bummer for the girls to not use all of their ornaments, but they still had a good time.

 

The quilt top was one started by my grandmother (or maybe my great-grandmother), anyway, I thought it was perfect.  The bucket started leaking water so we had to put a plate under it.  I panicked when we came home and there was a wet circle on the quilt, but it washed out just fine.

 

 

One thing we are not short of in this house is nutcrackers!  This big one helps hide the cord that is stretched out for the lights.  I like how the gifts look stacked in front of the quilt.  I was a little concerned that it wouldn't turn out the way I had envisioned it, but I'm really quite pleased with it.  I don't mean to pat myself on the back or anything like that!  I'm excited that we were able to still have a beautiful spot and save money at the same time.  

 

 

 

Not to mention the cleanup will be a snap!