For years it was our family tradition to go to a Christmas Tree Farm, bow saw in hand, and hack down our very own hand picked Christmas tree.  Oh the fun we had getting all bundled up in snow pants, boots, hats, gloves, long johns singing Christmas carols in the car for the 30 minute drive just so we could trudge through a field full of pine trees trimmed and shaped perfectly to put in the corner of every ones living room.  We would always start out with a hot cup of apple cider in the warming house before we trekked out into the wide open, then with burnt taste buds from the scalding hot cider…we were off!  The kids would sprint off in front of us, each of them claiming to have found the ‘perfect’ tree, only to find a different ‘perfect’ tree when they turned their heads into a different direction.  Usually after a ‘minor’ argument and wrestling match between my little angels on which tree we should cut down, we all took turns putting saw blade to tree trunk so we could say we all cut it down, and then jam it into the car for a pine smelling ride home.  The kids have grown, one getting married and now has her own family traditions to start, and the other one would still go out with me if I asked him too I’m guessing, I just haven’t asked.

So now, I set up an artificial tree.  It’s quick and simple, no sap, no needles falling on the floor, no concerns about if it has a crooked trunk or not, don’t have to worry about if the dog will do what dogs do on trees, and it’s a bit less of a fire hazard as I keep it up through the entire month.  Makes it sound simple on which tree I prefer doesn’t it?  Wrong.  I’d take those moments going to the tree farm any day of the week again, sure there were cold temps and some arguments, but there was also laughter and love…lots and lots of laughter and love.

So I ask you…which do you prefer?  Real or Artificial?