It's not Christmas Until...

At our house, it's not Christmas until I decorate the tree.  Then the dang thing tips over and I have to do it all over again...

I had a very lovely tree going on this year.

This afternoon, I happened to mention to my husband, (who is really not into trees in the house, btw...) that the thing seemed to be listing to the right a little.  He leaves for hockey and, boom!  There she goes.

It happens every year.  The first year, my kids ran around yelling and pretty much creating mass hysteria.  I seem to remember a "May-Day, May-Day, tree tipped over in the living room."  And an answering "Roger that...Help is on the way"  from them that year.  Then more running and hysteria as I tried to tip the thing back up...

The next year, they were prepared.  Not quite so much hysteria, but still a tiny bit of running around and yelling.  "Batten the hatches, storm off the starboard deck...  Finished off the Christmas tree..."  (I have very creative kids, you won't believe their reaction when they started a fire in the kitchen...)

This year?  Nothing.  Just a glance, a sigh, and an "I suppose you want me to climb under that thing" from Sweet Bluebird.  Not a question.  Just a statement of fact.

I am resigned to having to wire the tree to a curtain rod every year.  When will I ever learn?  Secretly, I think it's my husband, trying to coax me into purchasing an artificial one.  But no, I don't listen.  Every year, I have to have a real one.

And yes... Every year, it will tip over...

At least I have given up on the Mercury Glass ornaments.