Decorating the Tree

LOVE decorating the tree with the kids, but there are a few things I should remember for next year: -Charlie will eat the candy canes no matter how many years you have been hanging the same ones on the tree. -Charlie will try to scale the tree in order to reach the higher up candy canes. -Charlie will scream for the whole night of decorating unless you let him suck a candy cane the entire time. -Eating 5 full-sized candy canes doesn't kill a 2 year old. -Do not let husband put the tree decorations away this year. No matter how busy you are, it isn't worth the smashed ornaments you will open up - especially your favorite Santa : ( He will not wrap them in the tissue. -Do not throw your back out the day before decorating, or you will end up with boxes of decor on your family room floor for 3 days because you will be moving 10x slower than usual. -Buy a tree that is 6.5 ft tall. 7.5 is too tall for our star to fit, and you will end up having to fashion something with a bow or something... -Jack will get tired of decorating after about 5 minutes. -Scotty could decorate all night long. -Elaina wants to know where we got every ornament and whose each is - perhaps writing on the bottom of the ornaments would help? -Ben will not enjoy dinner no matter what you fix, so don't worry about pleasing him on "decorating the tree" night. -The best spot for the tree seems to be the music alcove - even if the kids think it would be better in a zillion other places, and tell you so the entire time. -Stay in a good mood. It is not very festive to hear yourself say, "Come on, let's get this done." We're halfway to a decorated house. Can't wait to be 100 percent done and drinking hot cocoa in front of a warm fireplace. I'll report when that happens ; )