Every once in a while, I hear the words, "I have a lot of Christmas trees" coming out of my mouth and I realize that it's crazypants. It is absolutely crazypants that I can't tell you how many trees I have because it's SO many that I''m not sure what should count. Only trees with lights? Only trees that are more than four feet tall? I don't know what the rules should be. If we throw all rules to the wind and just count everything, it's 26? I think? Alexis generally comes up with a higher number, so let's just go with over 25 and call it a day.
You would think that would be enough, but you would be wrong. In fact, I bought two new ones this weekend. I HAD TO! They were a matching pair of 4 1/2-foot tall white and silver trees. They're delightfully tacky and wonderful and they're going to look great on either side of the fireplace next year. The best part is that between now and then, I'll forget that I have them, so it'll be a fun surprise come November. The second best part was that they were 90% off. See! I had to get them!
It still won't be enough.
For, you see, the littles. The littles are ALL in on this crazy train. Alexis comes up with a higher number because she LOVES telling people how nuts I am and then revelling in their shock. She sees it as perfectly reasonable to have a lot of trees because how would you have less? Which ones would she have to give up? If you say the Harry Potter tree, look out. She will send Muggle your way.
And Mila. Oh, Mila. Mila is so in love with "the pretties." She spends a whole lot of her time making sure they are all turned on and properly decorated. She has done everything in her power to convince me to buy more trees and lights and ornaments and basically she wants our house to be the Target Christmas section, except with extra decorations at the three foot and below level. That high stuff can be skipped, mostly because it's not as much fun when she can't reach it to touch it.
Soooo ... that brings us to Christmas. We travelled to visit family and that family is not as spirited as I am. Thus, there wasn't a tree where Mila could see it. Long story short, she didn't say anything while we were there, but guess what she has mentioned 235234523059823 times since? Every time we're out and about and come across a tree, be it for sale or a part of the store decorations, she insists that we take it to Indiana to "Fix grandma's house."
Because it's broken.
Because it doesn't have 25+ trees.
Man, I love that kid.