Why didn't anyone warn me that it's exhausting putting up a Christmas tree?

I went with Kaitlyn today to buy a tree. I wanted a real one but when I was out running errands I saw a pretty nice one for $100 and I figured it would be better because I really don't want the hassle of a real tree, especially since this is our first year getting one. (Wow, that was a run-on, lol) So, I got home and Kaitlyn "helped" me put it together. I put up the lights and a few candy canes but i'm leaving the decorations and topper (I can't remember what the top ornament is called) for when DH gets home so he doesn't feel left out. We listened to Christmas songs and had fun. Kaitlyn was amazed by the lights and kept laughing and giggling. It took 2 hours to put the tree together and string the lights around it. That's exhausting.

Later, i'm going to work with Kaitlyn to help her make homemade ornaments so it can be a yearly tradition and a nice keepsake for when she's grown. I am really in the Christmas spirit this year and I feel so happy and cheerful! I think we're going to make the links for Kaitlyn to break one off each day counting down the days until Christmas. It'll be fun!

By Insaneusmcwife on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 05:57 pm:

Wow, I guess we aren't the only early birds putting up the Christmas tree. We just finished decorating and now I'm taking a break before I start cleaning up the mess.
That idea with the yearly homemade ornaments sounds like a wonderful tradition.

By Karen~moderator on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 06:35 pm:

It's ALWAYS exhausting putting a tree up. I always end up getting stuck doing the lights, and it takes forever. Taking them off is worse! LOL

My mom did the ornament thing with us growing up and I did it with my kids too.

Another thing we did when the kids were younger was, every year my mom bought them each a *special* ornament, so they each have that collection to keep forever too.

By Reds9298 on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 07:43 pm:

We're doing that with Natalie, Karen. I think it will turn out to be a nice idea!

By Dawnk777 on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 11:08 pm:

It is exhausting putting up a tree and I have about a million ornaments and the kids start, but only get a few on the tree and then I'm doing the rest. Maybe this year, they will put more on themselves!

Bring the boxes down, trim the tree, take the boxes back to the attic. It is a lot of work! Although pretty, when it's done!

By Rayanne on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 11:44 pm:

Ours is up too, but only half of my tree is decorated with ornaments. The top half has some, and the bottom half has none, except for a few of Rylee's Care Bear ornaments we bought her. She thinks it's fun to keep taking them off, so I didn't even bother with putting all our ornaments on.

I like your idea of the link chain Melissa. I think that I may copy you.