Do you have any tree trimming traditions?

We will finally be home this Sunday and I really hope to head to a Christmas Tree Farm to pick out a tree for Blue to chop down. Traditionally, we set up our tree the day after Thanksgiving. The Blue Spruce is our all time favorite and every year no matter how hard we try, we get the tree home only to find out that it is larger than life. By this time we are ravenous, so we feast on Thanksgiving leftovers. This year I am considering making some Pureed Carrot Ginger Soup, some baguettes, and maybe even a salad.

If you were peeking through our windows, you would see Blue arranging the lights on the tree while I help with the slack. I used to do them till the year Blue told me that if I squinted while doing it that I could see all the gaps. Well, several boxes of lights later, there was not a gap to be found, but we did have to put our tree on a few different breakers and you need sunglasses to look at it.

Our ornaments are a mix of the old and the new and there are no set rules where things should go. Honestly, I am just happy if it all fits and nothing breaks.

Christmas Music will be playing and occasionally one of use will sing along. Sometimes we will have old Christmas Movies playing on the TV. It's a Wonderful life seems to be a tree trimming tradition.

We laugh, joke, share memories, and snack on whatever desserts are left over from the big meal. By this time the liquor makes an appearance Frangelica in hot chocolate with marshmallow fluff, Kahlua in coffee if there is still much to be done, Shots of Irish Cream is we are too busy to sip, plain eggnog if we indulged to much the night prior, or ice cold toasted almonds if we are in sunny FL where the weather is hot. Somehow the alcohol just makes the night sparkle and I would dare Ebenezer Scrooge not to have a good time.

By now the lights are brighter, the music louder, and there is a good chance we are all singing. Blue and I are just too excited about Christmas and are ready to burst with our secret gifts. I can usually talk Blue into exchanging one early , especially if I am the one mixing his drinks.

This day is so much fun for us and I dare to say that it might be just as much fun as Christmas itself. I am excited about the Macy's parade and all the fun we will have, but it is really our tree trimming day that has had me checking the calendar since November 1 st.

This makes me wonder what your tree trimming traditions are.