Tell us all about your Christmas tree. Real or fake, colored lights or white lights, blinking or steady, tinsel or garland, angel or star on top? ... you get the idea. When do you put it up and take it down? Tell us about your ornaments. Tell us about any traditions or rituals you have while trimming your tree. Photos would be great!

Well, since I was sick for the entire second week of December this year, we were late putting up the Christmas tree. The tree would normally go up around two weeks before Christmas. Every now and again we would get a real tree (oh how I love that smell), but lately we've been using the good-old-standby artificial tree. We all join in on decorating the tree. We love to add lots of lights and ornaments, and believe it or not, the tree is looking a little bare. It's actually a very pretty tree. The photo doesn't do it justice.

It's become a tradition for each of us to make ornaments for the tree. We use foam balls or Christmas shapes and use all types of craft material to decorate them, like the snowman above.

We have been using the same old spinning light topper for years (yawn). My hubby loves it and is trying to make it another Christmas "tradition", but it is just too small for the tree! He also won't let us take the tree down until after January 6th, which he says is the 12th day after Christmas and safe to take away the tree...(huh?). The funny thing is, he has no idea where he came up with the information ... men!