What kind of tree does your family use?
We started out using a cedar tree that we would chop down from the fields, but soon discovered that we were allergic to cedar, so we started using fake trees.  This year, we are going to the Christmas tree farm to choose a real pine tree.

When do you put your Christmas tree up each year?
It varys some years, but we really like to put it up shortly after Thanksgiving.  My son's birthday is always right around Thanksgiving, so we want him to be the focus.

What kind of traditions do you have when putting up the tree (if any)?
My Grandma knew how I loved decorating her Christmas tree, so every year she would let me decorate it.  I got to be quite good at it.  My husband doesn't seem interested, and my daughter is now a wife and mother, so she does her own tree.  So that leaves the decorating to my 8 year old son and me.  If the weather is the least bit chilly, we like to have some hot cocoa or warm apple cider to drink.  We play either a Christmas CD or turn the satellite TV Christmas music station on.  I put the lights on, then my son and I both put the decorations on.  Last, the tree is scooted into place, and the tree skirt is placed beneath.  Then, we turn out the lights and sit and admire it.

How do you like to decorate your tree?
I've had so many themed trees.  For several years, quite a few years back, I had all mauve, sage, maroon and cream decorations.  I think that was my most gorgeous decorated tree.  The year my son was born, I used only our tree top (fake tree) and put cinnamon applesauce ornaments on it with pieces of gingham fabric strips and raffia tied to the branches.  It was really quite cute.  I love to snow ski, so I have been collecting snow skiing type ornaments for years and I have quite a few of those that I put on our tree, along with lots of homemade ornaments made by the kiddos.  Last year, in an attempt to make our fake tree look more Christmas-y, I purchased all new red, green, silver and gold ornaments.  They're really pretty, but the fake tree didn't do them justice.  I think they will look alot better this year on our real tree. 

Do you have any other interesting things that you would like to share about your Christmas tree?
hmmm, I think I got it pretty much covered in the last question.  I love homemade ornaments and think it would be nice to have a tree full of them.  I would also like to have some themed trees, like one specifically for my snow skiing ornaments, one for John Deere ornaments, etc.  But that's just too much work, so I'll stick to putting them all on one tree.

I hope to read about your trees too - see THIS POST for more information.