Years ago, we couldn't afford to buy a real tree, and the only ones we had close enough for us to cut ourselves were cedar trees in our fields (when you're allergic to cedar trees, this is not a good idea, ask us how we know).  One  year, I did buy a real tree from the grocery store, but it died within a week or two, we couldn't even turn on the lights for the week or two before Christmas.  Most of our 23 years of marriage, we've had fake trees.  Last year, my son went to a friends house after school.  When I went to pick him up, I saw their Christmas tree and it was so pretty!!  A real one too.  I found out that they go to the Christmas Tree Farm each year to cut a tree.  I checked into it this year and my son and I went and chose our tree.  It had to be short enough to fit in the back seat of my Grand Prix,  it's about 4.5 to 5 feet tall, and it's so fat, it's gorgeous!!  We've had it for 2 weeks almost and it's still alive and doing very well!  We will get a real tree from the Christmas Tree Farm each year from now on.  We had a wonderful time searching for the perfect tree.  I was afraid for awhile that my son would choose a Charlie Brown tree, but he made a good choice.  After our tree was shaken and baled, the young men who work at the farm placed it in my back seat, and my son and I went inside the gift shop for a cup of hot apple cider that was so good!  Next year, I will remember to take my camera to the tree farm!!