O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum

We decided to celebrate this holiday season in our new home, and although we are sad to not see family and friends, we are looking forward to a Christmas without traveling.

What is Christmas without a Christmas tree? We decided to buy our first ever tree (neither of us have ever had a full-size one). It was fun. Last friday we went to a place around the corner to get one. We told the 200 cm (=6'6") tall guy that we don't have a clue what to buy. That was a good starter: he liked us because we admited it. When we told him we have a cat, we got his heart because he owns seven. (That cat-owner connection thing...you know....). He did everything to give us the best tree in his stock: a Nordmann Fir. This tree holds forever and the needles are totally soft. It's not a bushy type of tree - you can see the individual branches and the trunk - but it's cool and real "tree-y."

Jim dragged the tree up to the fifth floor while Nat jumped around totally excited.



We unwrapped it, and yep - a perfect, wonderful 220cm (7'2") tall tree:



We got a really cool stand. It's got four claws with a single steel cable looping through them. You put the trunk between them and press a pedal to tighten the cable. After about 3 pumps of the pedal, the claws become embedded in the trunk with equal pressure from all four sides and bingo - you're done. Easy peasy. Pretty much like a Krinner Tree Genie.

Jim put up the lights and Niles was totally excited. He seemed to think this was all staged just for him. He chased the lights on the floor, chewed on the needles, and looked all like a happy cat.



Since we didn't have a lot to put on the tree (hey, it's our first), Nat made some ornaments: stars and balls out of paper:



We had a lot of presents to put under the tree already, some of which Dave and Jess brought over. Joe and Jen also sent us a wonderful package!



So, we have a tree. Ta-daaa:



And Niles? Well, he freaks out every once in a while and runs around like an idiot. We think the Christmas Tree must be taunting him ;-)