Oh Chistmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree?!?!

So, Chris and I usually buy our Christmas tree the Saturday following Thanksgiving and absolutely LOVE having it up all December long.  I usually don't feel like it is worth all the work if you don't have it up that long.  This year, we both felt terrible for two weekends after Thanksgiving and with me rotating with a later schedule shopping for a tree on the weeknight wasn't an option.  Needless to say, we haven't gotten one yet... and here it is almost half way through the month! 

So, I had confidently decided that this year we would do without... of course Chris has no objection as that means less money to spend this season!  However... the more and more I think about it... the more I feel like Christmas just doesn't feel right without a tall, full, wonderful smelling Frasier Fur all dressed up with lights and ornaments new and old!  I just thought about how sad it would be to wake up on Christmas morning and come down for coffee and exchange gifts with Chris... by the light of the flat screen?  I need to see it, smell it, and be reminded of all the wonderful Christmases past purely from it's presence, to feel like it's actually Christmas! 

My solution is to promptly schedule a date with the love of my life for tree shopping on this frigid winter Friday night :)  Even though I had previously resigned myself to no Christmas tree... I can't even tell you how excited this makes me!  I think I knew all along in the back of my head we would have to get one eventually.  I remember one year I was so upset that my family had waited SO long to buy our Christmas tree... I was convinced we just weren't getting one at all.   Then, sure enough, we got one... on Christmas Eve!  Even that late... it was still worth it!  What is it about a pine tree in the corner of our living room?!  Such a strange custom when you really think about it... but I clearly can't do without! 

What are your family's Christmas tree purchasing/decorating traditions?