![Persimmon Pudding](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8058/8224408906_98c33f4a8f.jpg)
On to happier things- like decorating the house for Christmas. During the summer of 2011, we picked up a Christmas tree at a neighbor's estate/moving-into-retirement-home-and-downsizing sale. It was a good deal at 5 bucks and it was a good test to see how we felt about going from the real tree to an artificial tree.
![Christmas Tree #1](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8224412448_5d901049c0.jpg)
I was very anti-fake tree but I found myself growing to like the fake one. It holds up better with the boys, no watering or drying out, very little needles come off the thing and I can put it up the day after Thanksgiving and it will look the same on Christmas. To solve the smell issue, Rob found a candle for me that makes the house smell like Christmas tree. Now I was sold. The only thing is that I was wishing it had clear lights and was taller. I started scanning craigslist and waiting. I missed out on one so I waited a bit longer and found a really nice looking one at a really nice looking house. I went to peep it out last Friday and it was awesome. AND it was only $50. That thing must have cost at least $300-$400 when it was new. The owner was meticulous about taking care of it and storing it and it is in fantastic shape. I brought it home and we set it up right away and decorated it.
![Untitled](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/8224419898_683f915cbc.jpg)
Most of the decorating around the house is done now, including putting the lights and garlands on the exterior of the house. I still have some more to do, like decorating the tree in the family room but I need to go shopping for some Rex-and-Wyatt-proof decorations because they destroyed the ones I had on it last year. I love Christmastime!