Oh, Christmas Tree

After some debate and research on fake versus real (weighing the environmental, safety, and economical issues), we opted for a real tree.  It didn't win on safety, and it may be a toss-up environmentally and economically.  But there's just something about the whole experience of going to pick one out (even if it is only in a parking lot down the street a ways) that makes it special.  Oh, and that fresh woody smell that fills up the living room is pretty sweet, too.

 So, a Saturday or so ago, we ventured out to find our tree.

 And we found it!

 Oscar helped with the decorating 

(please note how "helped" is NOT in quotation marks anymore--he actually helped!).

Daily he admires the tree and names the many objects and creatures hanging from it.  He is surprisingly gentle and doesn't pull at the ornaments.  The other night I was taking him up to bed, and I said, "Good night, tree," as we headed up the stairs.  When the tree was out of sight, Oscar started calling out sadly, "Tree, tree, tree."  A sentimental kid, for sure.