We got our tree on Saturday.  The kids looked forward to it all week. This is our third Christmas all together and it is a comfort and a joy to see that we are already forming our combined family traditions. Paul’s kids have thoroughly embraced the advent calendar daily gift opening ritual. (They loved the ribbon calendars I made for them.) Getting the tree is definitely one of the highlights. We’ve gone to the  same Christmas tree farm the past three years and cut down our own tree. The place we go to is Christmas storybook wonderful complete with fresh made popcorn popped over an open fire, hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies.  They even have a craft table set up to make homemade ornaments. The owners have gotten to know us and we have developed the reputation as the family that picks the  biggest tree on the lot. The ceiling in our great room is 14 feet high and we like to fill it up. It usually takes a few hours to cut it down the tree. This year Paul took one look at the tree and said, “We need a chainsaw.” It was kind of embarrassing in a way to destroy the pristine serenity of the tranquil scene, but we needed to call in the big guns. When they were bagging the tree we overheard people saying, “That must be the tree they needed the chainsaw for. ” It took four men to heave onto the top of our car.  Paul, being the methodical engineer that he is rigged up a pulley system to set the tree in place. The kids had to stand on a ladder to decorate it. There was a great spirit of cooperation. The older kids helped the younger ones and in no time the job was done.