It is hard to believe we are only 8 days away from Christmas Day. This month is flying by. Not sure if we are quite ready for Christmas, but I guess we better be this week!
I have spent a good part of the month stressing about some medical issues. I have been having stomach problems for the last little while. I thought at first that it was my gall bladder, but after multiple tests everything came back normal. I finally went and saw a Gastroenterologist at the end of November. He suggested I have an Endoscopy done. So the next week I went and had it done. I was super nervous because I didn't know what he would find, and I was a little scared about being put under. Everything went well, but alas, my result all came back normal. It wasn't that I wanted the Dr. to find anything, but it would have been nice to find a reason for my problems. At this point I am just working on adjusting my diet and trying some over the counter meds. It may just be something I have to live with for the rest of my life. Bummer!
Anyway, enough about that. Now I want to relate our adventure in getting our 'real' Christmas tree this year. It is probably a boring story for most, but I want my kids to remember it because it was a different experience than in years past. We decided to check out some Christmas tree farms close by our home the day after Thanksgiving because Nate would really like to cut down our own tree. Sadly, the trees at these farms were pretty pitiful. So we decided to wait until the next weekend and go get our tree at the nursery where was have gotten them the last few years. Saturday the 1st finally rolled around and we headed out to get our tree. We were surprised and shocked to find that the nursery didn't have many trees. They told us they were getting a shipment in the next Tuesday and that they would pull some off the truck for us. We left them our name and number. Tuesday came (which also happened to be my Endoscopy day) and we waited for a call but never got one. Nate finally called and was told the shipment would come the next day. Once again we waited all day Wednesday to hear from them but never got a call. That afternoon Nate was sitting in his office and had the impression that he needed to go to the nursery right then to get a tree. He packed up Ashlyn and Liam (Gavin and I were at scouts) and headed over to the nursery. When he pulled up they had just finished unloading the new shipment of trees. Nate was able to get first pick. He said that shortly after they got there people just starting streaming in, so that by the time Nate and the kids left there were only a few trees left. We were so glad that Nate went when he did or we would have been without a tree again. Now the funny (or not so funny) part of this is that Nate didn't really have any concept of how big of a tree he bought. When he put it on top of the car it didn't look very big, but once we started dragging it through the front door we realized the tree was HUGE!!! I think we have decided it is almost 11 feet! We couldn't put it in the usual spot because of its size and Nate (who is 6' 4") had to stand on a stool that was on a chair to put the star on top. It was a great adventure putting lights on it and decorating it, but it is a beautiful tree. The kids love it and it smells divine. Every year I question why we go through all the craziness of getting a 'real' tree, but in the end it is all about tradition!!! Here are some pictures of our HUGE Christmas tree!
I really need a picture of Nate standing next to it to get the full effect of how big it is. I will try and get that before the tree goes out to the curb after Christmas. :)
