I was very discouraged and saddened to see that all the decent trees at the Walmart were around $100 . Most of them were prelit which I do not like. I did find a short , skinny tree for $20 , but my sister who had happened to call right when I was walking into the store, convinced me that I really did not want a dingy $20 Christmas Tree. I figured she was right so Hannah and I continued our search. Of course Hannah really wanted a pink tree and the pricey snow covered one; but in the end I think she would have been happy with the $20 tree after all she is only 3. Anyway I wondered over to the outdoor section to to my delight they were selling "freshly" cut tree's for only $34. I had not considered getting a live tree, they are nice but messy , and you have to water them. But then I looked again at all my other options and figured a live tree would be better then a dingy $20 one that would probably get thrown away at the next move anyway. So I took the plunge , I committed to buying a real tree.
When I went to pay for the tree in the outdoor section , the debit card machine didn't work. So I had to wait and wait while holding a 30 pound 3 year old. Finally someone came to fix the problem. He could not fix the problem. So I had to walk pushing a shopping cart while trying to carry Hannah who refused to walk. I am sure all mothers no the joy of trying to push a cart with one hand while holding a child with your other. Anyway I had to walk all the way to the automotive section to pay for my tree.
Well after that and then trying to figure out where to park so I could pick up my tree, Hannah and I were headed home with our tree. Hannah was very happy about the real tree. I was still a little apprehensive. One of the problems I had had a strong walmart employee load the tree into the back of my SUV for me ,but when I got home he was not there to help me carry it into the house. So after a struggle I finally got the tree into the house. I got it in there only to realize the it was too tall for out vaulted ceiling. No matter I had to cut a little bit off the bottom anyway I will just cut off extra .(Side note my husband is out of town until Wednesday). I went down to the basement to find a hand saw I was sure my husband had one laying around. He didn't but he had a big scary electric saw , that I was not willing to use( yes I am a wimp). But not one to give up easily I found a old rusted hand ax. I felt it it seemed sharp enough. Imagines of the old movies where loggers cut down trees using nothing but an ax flashed through my head. Excited that I was going to make this work. I dashed back into the house ax in hand. I started hacking at that thing. At first it seemed to me that I was making good progress, but after awhile I realized that I was only half way through and my arm was aching and my hand felt like it would never unclench again. Feeling discouraged visions of that dingy Christmas tree danced in my head. I wondered if Walmart would take my partially hacked Christmas Tree back. After stopping to make lunch for Hannah and I , I went back to my task. Determined to get the bottom of that tree chopped off I put all my energy into it, hacking away. Encouraged by my progress I began to sing. Finally , finally , it came off. I held that piece in my hand and about cried. I had done it.
I thought the hard part was over. I was wrong. I still had pine needles all over my living room floor, and I had to get the tree into the stand. I knew Hannah was not going to be much help but determined I started the task. I don't know if anyone else has attempted to hold up a huge tree with one hand while trying to screw it in with another, it is not an easy thing to do. It kept falling over and the screws were just not screwing in, plus I had my 3 year old trying to be helpful. Finally discouraged I stood up gave the tree a couple shakes in frustration and low and behold it held. My shakes of frustration must have moved it around enough that that tree held into the place. Sure it was leaning a little. But it was sturdy I tested it. That tree was not going to budge. Finally I had done it. Now I just have to clean up those pine needles.
