We went out Sunday to Hirzbacher Höfe in a little town called Hammersbach. It is one of the few places around here that seems to cut their own trees from their own lot. You can even go into the forest and cut a tree fresh if you don’t like anything in their pre-cut lot. The prices were extremely reasonable too…especially considering what we paid last year. Our tree then was on par with this year’s tree and cost us 65 euros…and who knows where it came from. This year, we paid 70 for two trees of the same size. Needless to say, we’re definitely going back there next year. Amusingly enough, we tried to go there last year but couldn’t manage to find the place. This year, we were out taking a drive with my mom and noticed a bunch of signs for it…then ended up driving right by it. Must have been Christmas tree fate.

Yesterday we got the tree set up…yeah, a bit slow but we wanted to anchor it and since Stefan did it last year, I wanted his help. So I asked him to set up the tree yesterday when he got home from work. I’m sure he would have preferred to just relax on the couch instead, but it was a quick project and he didn’t complain much. He had been out late on Monday and was still recovering…plus dreading having to be out late today due to yet another work-related event. Ah, the Christmas party mania.

So I had “decorate the tree” on my to do list today…and for a while I thought I might not be able to accomplish it. Between feedings and other little things that needed to be done, I just couldn’t seem to make any headway. But as you can see, it’s now finished…and I only ended up with a tiny bit of sap on Mackenzie. Wish I could say that about myself too.

Stefan and I have a rather fun tradition for our tree…we collect ornaments from every town we go to and many events that we take part in. So our tree is really ecclectic at the end and stirs up a bunch of great memories whenever we put it up. It almost makes me want to leave it up longer…if there wasn’t the whole fire safety issue.

One of our new ornaments this year is of course for Mackenzie. My mom brought this super cute little bear ornament for her that says “Baby’s First Christmas” on it.

This mask is from Venice…we actually got it two years ago but I think it’s cool and it was calling out to the camera.

Along with helping me hang ornaments (which certainly would have taken me hours otherwise) , my mom also helped me figure out how to hang some of the things I’ve collected but never figured out how to add to the tree. Like this fuse from our old fuse box here at the farm. Clearly not some of the newest technology there…

Now I just need to locate some clear plastic ornaments that can be opened so I can put things like concert tickets in them…I found some here somewhere in a store but didn’t buy them for some reason. So now I have to go on that quest again…we’ll see if I manage to locate them before Christmas or if I put in an order for them from Michael’s when my mom returns home!