our tree adventure

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

The kids and I decided to get the tree over the past weekend. With husband out of town and it being his birthday and all, we decided that having the tree could be a big birthday surprise upon his return. So, we ventured out. I'd love to say that while the snow was gently falling, thermos's filled with hot cocoa, Christmas music playing, we drove to our local tree farm to cut down a perfectly shaped fresh tree. That didn't happen. Instead, we drove (in the gently falling snow) to our local Home Depot and picked out a perfectly shaped 6-7 ft fraser fir for $37.50. It was one of the first ones we spotted, because of its perfect top. Perfect for our angel topper. The nice guys attached it to the top of my (tall) vehicle and home we went. In the driveway, Charlie (age 14) and I just looked at each other. Where did the nice guys go? It was now up to us to get it off the (tall) vehicle. Okay. I had a plan. We can sort of roll it off the side. It ended up rolling onto my head and hit tip first on the driveway. Oh no, the top! I reassured the kids it was fine.

Thinking of our next move, we left it to dry overnight in the garage.
Sunday morning I told the kids to get dressed and meet me in the garage. I would get everything we needed together in order to make a fresh cut off the base. Chain saw. Check. Axe. Check. Saw. Check. Except that the chain saw turned out to be a hedge trimmer (shhhh), the axe decided to hit 6 inches above my mark, and the saw had the dullest blade in town. We did it though. We all took turns sawing and finally were able to bring it in the house, put it in the stand and remove the netting. And darn, if that top really was broken. Charlie asked if we could tape it back on. I thought about tying a big red bow.
And then I remembered. In a smug sort of way. I am the girl with the hot glue gun.
Yeah baby, bring on the angel!

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84 comments

  1. Whatever works, works- nice job on the tree top!

    Thanks for the morning chuckle!

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  2. What a funny story! Those glue guns come in handy don't they? I hope it stays together the whole holiday season.

    Note: Get yourself a good bow saw. It's light, inexpensive, sharp, and easy for us gals to handle! (I speak from experience)

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  3. I like your story SO much better. Priceless. I will now clean up the coffee that just went sputtering with the laughter.

    Once again, you are a highlight in my day Leslie!

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  4. I still have tree shopping ahead of me and I'll think of you while I'm there.

    Ah, the making of memories.

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  5. Next time I break something I need to remember my hot glue gun. I wonder where it is...

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  6. What a riot. I think they embellish the tree in Rockafeller Plaza. So I think you are good to go!

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  7. Hilarious! I never would have thought of the glue gun!

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  8. Anonymous12/08/2009

    Great story! When I was in college, my roommate and I had to saw through our own tree with the tiniest saw EVER. We made it, though.

    Happy Christmas season!

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  9. Ha! And I'm envious that you can get a tree like that for that price. We went fake vintage aluminum this year because I'm sick of paying $70 for a tree.

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  10. you are awesome. and your story totally cracked me up - in a good way. hooray for the hot glue gun!

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  11. go on girl! love your spunk and determination....what a great story. I can just picture it all. And in my book, hedge trimmers really do resemble chainsaws quite a lot! It probably worked out safer that it was a hedge trimmer and not a chain saw. Have a great week! Keep your glue gun handy!

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  12. Anonymous12/08/2009

    You can do anything you set your mind to! Great price on the Fraser Fir. That is what we always get from our local Christmas Tree Farm - but the price here is more like $60.

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  13. Oh Leslie, that is hysterical, those hot glue guns are so useful! I don't know what is funnier, the idea of you standing up there, hot glue gun at the ready or thought of you trying to get it off the car. Brilliant.

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  14. Hilarious--those glue guns come in handy

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  15. Oh you GO, girl! Martha would be so proud.

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  16. That is TOO funny. Love it. I love your blog. I came her because of the knitting, but love all the other stories too!

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  17. And this is why I needed to make my way back to blogland...for the story of day to day life that brings laughter and joy! A hot glue gun? You tickle me for your diligence and determination. Bravo to you and your children for sharing in this Christmas adventure, a memory for keeps, and a very Happy Birthday to your hubby! xoxo

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  18. Anonymous12/08/2009

    Ah, great story! :)

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  19. Okay, I bust out laughing at the glue gun bit...I probably would have done the same! OR duct tape always works if the angel covers it up.

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  20. Hilarious. We got our tree today at the local Ace Hardware store. I was trying to remember the words to O Tannenbaum (sp?) to no avail.

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  21. What fun!
    You'll all be smiling about this for years to come.

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  22. There must be something to that stereotype that men and boys want to fix everything with duct tape. Every woman should have a (glue) gun in her arsenal.

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  23. Well it sounds like a glue gun is just what you needed.

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  24. Anonymous12/08/2009

    Great tree memories. We ventured out last night to buy gifts for a family our school adopted and figured it would be perfect timing to get our tree. We started at Home Depot but ended up at Lowes. Thankfully Hubby was there to help or I may have had to grab a glue gun too. My three little ones are trudging through H/w as I type so they can decorate the tree. Hopefully without any squabbles or broken ornaments.

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  25. That is both touching and hilarious all at the same time!

    One of my friends needed a hot glue gun for his Halloween costume and when he was done instead of using tape when wrapping a birthday gift, he hot glued it! It was so funny as she kept looking for the tape to peel away.

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  26. A glue gun is a girl's best friend! Thanks for a good laugh on this cold and dreary afternoon.

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  27. Well done! I actually just bought my first glue gun and have been wondering what I did without it for so long.

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  28. Ingenious!!! Glue gun - a girl's best friend!! Funny story!

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  29. HAHAHAHAHA! Now THAT'S a good Christmas story. And it even had a glue gun!

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  30. You're awesome! I never would have attempted such a feat without my husband. Good for you!

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  31. Great thinking, I bet it's beautiful when all the toys are on it. When does hubby get home?

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  32. You go, Girl!! What a great story...& one the kids will always remember.

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  33. so funny! we did fill our mugs, listen to christmas music and venture out for a freshly cut tree (at sunset no less). Only when you have SO many to chose from the decision becomes hard. We kept going further and further into the 'forest' with all three kids in tow and my husband was getting more and more irritated. Obviously the tree had to be dragged back from quite the distance and it wasn't me doing it. I am sure he would have appreciated you experience much more ;)

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  34. Martha would be proud! Yay for being so crafty. What a great memory!

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  35. so, so funny! thanks for the laugh! Happy Birthday to your husbanc. Mine celebrated a birthday last week too!

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  36. Hilarious! Love your fix-it method!

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  37. Hilarious!

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  38. Cheers to the girl with the hot glue gun! The tree top looks perfect.

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  39. What a great idea using a glue gun! I bought my tree at Home Depot last year; great price so I went back again this year too. When does your husband come back? Hope he likes the tree.

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  40. I'm sure the kids will remember it forever! Happy Holidays!

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  41. Oh, how I love your banner!!!! So sweet. Jim talked about going to the Depot, and I thought he was nuts. Funny how the old "Leslie did it" lent a bit more credence to his master plan. The tree is beautiful, and I give you many points for tackling it on your own.

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  42. hot glue gun goddess!! all the mom's of the world are cheering for you!
    and hurray for saving the day for the kids ;-)
    you are one wonderful Mom !

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  43. That's a great Christmas story!

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  44. Hilarious. And now I want a Christmas tree.

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  45. Love it, the Crafter to the rescue!

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  46. Wonderful tree and there is NOTHING wrong with a hot glue gun!

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  47. Your kids will have a great Christmas memory now! It's things like this that will stick in their minds!

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  48. AWESOME. I love this post! Totally brightened up my day!

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  49. Oh dear! well, this will be a Christmas (tree) to remember! Hey, it only has to last for a few more weeks, right?

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  50. Beautiful tree! And talk about never giving up!!! What a story. Ha! Love it.

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  51. Anonymous12/09/2009

    Awesome tree. We don't do real trees anymore. You got a steal for that $38!!! If you go to the grocery store they are about $50, if you go to the tree lot they are about $75. We picked up an artificial tree about two years ago. I miss getting a real tree, but we just can't justify spending the money. We'd much rather have gifts to give, you know? Anyway, bravo on fixing the top! :) I'm sure the kids are totally stoked now.

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  52. Hot glue to the rescue... AGAIN!

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  53. Hah! Good job! You are THE woman with a hot glue gun!

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  54. I held my breath when I read "chain saw"...could you really operate one of those? :)
    only a mother would think of the hot glue gun!!

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  55. You are the best mom! and those home depot guys sure do make it look easy - reminds me of the time they were kind enough to load twenty-five 40lb bags of gardening soil into my van. wasn't so nice when I got home and had to unload.

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  56. Love it! I'm laughing at 7 am which is quite an accomplishment!

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  57. I totally laughed at this story. I don't even know what to do with an axe!

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  58. Anonymous12/10/2009

    The tree looks lovely and most importantly, I did not have to fight with the tree. It is not as easy as it looks?
    lubjew

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  59. Anonymous12/10/2009

    we got our tree from home depot also! it smells sooo good... we always have them make the cut for us, so we don't have to hassle w/ the saw when we get it home. :-)

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  60. Anonymous12/10/2009

    This so threw memories in my mind of Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation and his tree adventures! SOOOO funny!

    Can't wait to see the tree finished, and you must let us know your birthday hubby's reaction!~Jan

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  61. Oh my goodness - what an adventure!! And the glue gun...well done!

    P.S. Thank you for your very sweet recent comment on my blog. :)

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  62. Beautiful!! That's why they say necessity is the mother of invention. Who says crafty people are weird obviously never had to figure out how to fix anything.

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  63. :) thats the funniest story i have heard in a while! glue guns were sent from heaven.
    xo

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  64. Hey, glue gun, duct tape....whatever works! You get a big fat A for effort. No one will know the difference.

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  65. I just love a crafty mama with a glue gun. Does it get any better?

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  66. Home Depot saved the day last year for me. I read your post to the boys and they thought it was funny...especially the tree falling on your head.

    Glad to hear that you have a "glue gun that saved Christmas" story. We all need one of those.

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  67. Superb job between you all! Now would you mind just popping over as husband went and bought an 8 foot fake tree today. No, we don't have tall cielings!!!

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  68. You & your family are going to be laughing about this for many Christmas's to come! Love it!

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  69. Cute story and great ending!

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  70. Excellent tree top and family teamwork. Thanks for making me laugh today. :)

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  71. Anonymous12/14/2009

    LOL!!! You hot glued the top!? That is just a priceless christmas memory! Love it!

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  72. You of all people, OF COURSE you used your hot glue gun! That tip didn't stand a chance...

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  73. there always seems to be an adventure when we get our tree too!

    yay for glue guns!!

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