Simple Memories

I LOVE CHRISTMASTIME! Something about this time each year just makes everyone more joyful in general. The world is more cheery, carefree, and just uplifting. It is the time of family traditions, which I am a big sucker for. I mean, if we don't do the SAME EXACT thing each year, it throws me for a loop...so tradition is good :)

Today my family is doing what we always do the Saturday after Thanksgiving...hunting for our Christmas tree! This is always quite the adventure for the Grass family. No, we have down finding the perfect tree, it's getting it to stand up at home that we struggle with.

You see, there were about 3 consecutive years where we would find the perfect tree at the tree farm, but once we got home, we noticed that the trunk was crooked...WAY crooked. Our solution? Put nails into the wall, tie strings to the trunk of the tree, and pray it stays standing once we tie the strings to the nails. Usually it works, but it takes quite the skill.

Before we would leave the house, we would pray that when we returned, the tree would still be standing...but that only happened about fifty percent of the time. It got quite humorous actually...besides the fact that our floor would end up soaking wet, a few presents got soggy, and a couple of ornaments broke in the process.

One time our tree fell over and we were actually home. My sister and I were in the kitchen and my dad was sleeping in the recliner right next to the tree. The tree never fell over while we were at home. Whenever we first noticed the tree was leaning, we would immediately fix it so it wouldn't fall over. Well, all of a sudden my sister and I heard the tree fall over...right on top of dad! It was quite the sight.

Needless to say, we ALWAYS check the trunk of the tree before it is dubbed 'perfect tree'.