Getting to know us - 12/1

[New England Eeyore]

I am never early enough to be the first one of the morning, so I'm getting a jump on it tonight! Since we put up our tree today I thought I'd go with that theme:

Christmas tree - real or artificial?

 

[New England Eeyore]

Artificial here.

When I was little we always had real ones, but when she passed away I inherited my grandmother's artificial one and I've been using that one ever since. As we were putting it up today though I realized it's a bit past it's prime. I'm thinking that maybe next year it's time to go back to a real one.

 

[aroyer]

Growing up we had a real tree, but DH is allergic to them so we have a pre-lit artificial tree. I thought I wouldn't like it, but I honestly love it- low maintenance! There are times I miss the fun of going to cut a tree.

 

[rlovew]

Growing up we had real ones until we moved to Florida. The heat in Miami killed them before Christmas. We moved to an artificial one the second year there. In college I had one that hung on the wall- lack of dorm space. When I got married DH is allergic to real trees so we have a little artifical one (3ft) that is fiberobtic and prelit. This is the first year we are having a crowd for Christmas- normally we go someplace else. We thought about a bigger one but with our little dog we decided the little one on a high table is a better choice to save ornaments.

One year my brothers and dad went out and chopped down the tree (we were in CT at the time). My oldest little brother declared they had found the perfect tree. When they got it home my dad had to take off the bottom of it so it could stand up in the house. When my brother saw what he had done, he said the tree was ruined- turns out his perfect tree had a long trunk before the branches- more room for presents.

Rebecca

 

[123SA]

That's a cute story Rebecca.

Real tree always.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

One real and one artificial. We have a real one about 6 ft tall in the living room and one about 3 ft tall for the dining room.

The little one is the one we ship to Disney when we are there for Xmas, it only has Disney ornaments and a Tinkerbell tree topper. We did buy an adorable topper at the Disney Store Friday that is Tink before she gets her talent, she's in the white dress.

The big one we cut down. I was sooo tempted to by an artificial tree on Thursday at Mikes because we have no idea when we'll have time to get a tree but the thought of not having that photo op was too much. I love hunting the perfect tree, it takes us hours!

 

[DisneyIsTerrific]

We have an artificial prelit one. Up until about 5 years ago we would get a real one, but as the cost went up we decided the artificial one was so more cost efficient. I also really like not having to battle getting the lights on it each year!

 

[party of 3]

We have a real one. DH grew up with an artificial so when we got married he said we had to have a real. I grew up with the real and would like to switch to prelit artificial, but he will not hear of it. I must say I like to go and get ours and pick out the perfect tree with my boys.

 

[ddavis860]

Growing up we always had a real one. Then when I got married, it was a balled and wrapped one that DH would plant in our yard.

When we moved into the new house we had balled and wrapped trees the first 2 years. Year 3, DH never seemed to have the time to put the tree out, and at the end of Jan, I finally dragged, kicked, pulled, pushed the thing out on the deck and it stayed there till spring. That was the year I declared no more live trees. We have had artificial ever since.

I have 2, a really full one and a tall skinny one. I haven't put up the skinny one for a few years, and it got pushed into the far side of the attic. When the kids went up for the Easter stuff last year, that is the tree that the birds were nesting in...

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

We normally have the artifical one. Both boys are allergic to trees. Can't have real one or the real pine boughs strung through the house. We aren't putting up one this year though. With all the basement furniture and toys moved up to the upper floors, there is no floor or wall space to speak of. We thought we could get at least the Disney tree up, but really, there is no place to put one. I am feeling a bit blue about it.

 

[WDWMom]

We have a real tree. Every year we trek through the woods to find the perfect tree. We have 10 foot ceilings so we can handle a large tree. This year we found one in record time. About 5 minutes.

 

[YoYoAurora]

Artificial - I'm allergic to pine.

I get my real tree fix when visiting DSIL and her family for Christmas. We only stay 2 or 3 days, but I'm sniffling, sneezing and wheezing by the time we leave.

I do love how a real tree smells though!

-- Susan

 

[bearbear]

artificial. I am jewish by birth but not by practice. We do Christmas in my house as DH is not jewish. We do one night of Hannaukah. So growing up we never had a tree and I am afraid to get a real one.

 

[MinnieGarden]

Artificial. I'm allergic to Christmas trees too. We did have a real one when I was little, until we figured out that I was allergic. Now I have 3 artificial. One huge skinny tall one, a medium Disney one, and a table top tree.

 

[hopemax]

When we lived in Washington, always real. Or I should say, the present tree was always real. My parents are really BIG into Christmas, so besides the real tree we would have a couple dozen artificial trees of varying sizes (yes, really, the record was like 34). Even when I got a place of my own, one real tree and then I have about 5 artificial trees.

When we moved to Arizona, we left our tree stand at my parents, correctly figuring we would have no use for it in the desert. I will not spend $70 on a 5' Douglas fir that I was used to paying $10 for. However, I did not foresee my parents moving to Florida and us in Colorado.

Here, we could have a real tree. But my tree stand is in Florida, and I don't want to buy another, since eventually I will get my tree stand back, when we move our Wilderness Lodge furniture up here. So this year it will be artificial.

 

[Michellepooh]

I've always had an artificial tree. We always put it up the weekend after Thanksgiving and then it comes down New Year's Day. We have to tie it to the wall so that the cats don't knock it down. When they were kittens they would try to climb it. Now that they're a little more "mature" they just live under it. No exaggeration. They go nowhere else in the house.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Now that they're a little more "mature" they just live under it. No exaggeration. They go nowhere else in the house.

Yup, thats our house too! Although we have the added benefit of other critters help as well.

Boo "helping" decorate.

As for our tree, it has been artificial for the last 4 years or so. When my parents were married it was always real (dad insisted). When they divorced, mom and I went artificial. With DH, the first few years were real then we moved and the room it goes in is on the 3rd floor. The fake tree lives in a closet on the 3rd floor as well, so it is easy to set up. DH wants a real one and i told him fine as long as he carries it up the steps (and down after the season) and decorates it and waters it. I cant get close to it. It literally cause burns on my arms if I touch it. I can be wearing long sleeves and I still managed to get these burns up to my armpits. I am just really allergic.

 

[New England Eeyore]

I've always had an artificial tree. We always put it up the weekend after Thanksgiving and then it comes down New Year's Day. We have to tie it to the wall so that the cats don't knock it down. When they were kittens they would try to climb it. Now that they're a little more "mature" they just live under it. No exaggeration. They go nowhere else in the house.

Yeah - we tied ours up this year too - thanks for the tip. Last year my kitty brought the whole thing down. We're thinking that this year we need to keep the living room off limits to him though, because even though he can't bring it down, he still loves to pick ornaments off one by one and distribute them throughout the house. I was still finding them well into January. Last year, I just gave up on putting them back so by Christmas the lower quarter of the tree was completely bare. Christmas is definitely more challenging with a feline family member!

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Boo "helping" decorate.

I just that picture. Your ferrets are adorable. Do they really make good housepets?

 

[PrincessNancy96]

We have always had an artificial.. (well, once we had a real thrill.. 1996.. ..I remember it well, because the tree swallowed up my DS...who was just scooting at the time..and all of 6 months old.... he tugged just right on the lower branch and DD screamed bloody murder that the tree was eating her brother!!!).... We had to anchor that big ol' tree into the ceiling!!!

So, we bought an artifical one that is over 8 feet tall and fat as can be...and I stuff every ornament on it...some that are as old as me...and of course all the ones my kids have made over the years!!!!

DH and I bought new lights this year that change from multi-color to white and it's AMAZING!!!! I need to add the ribbon to the tree and it'll be good to go!!!!

Oh, and we have 2 trees this year... and each child has their own small table top tree.... my house has shrunk in size since I started decorating on Saturday!

Ok, off to get DS12 to BB practice!