It all starts the day after Halloween . . . I break out the Christmas music and start talking about putting up the tree. This year, the music started on November 3 when I returned to school and created a Christmas playlist for Media Player. People coming to my office made comments that week about how early it was to be listening to Christmas music, but as time went on, more and more of them started getting out their CDs.

Two weeks ago tonight (that would be the 7th,) we went to Piedmont for Chinese buffet. While we were eating, we found out that the florist from our wedding was having his annual Christmas open house that night, so we stopped in for a couple of hours. After contemplating different purchases, including all new decorations for our existing tree (about $700) or two candles ($40), we found three rustic trees in the corner of the shop, decorated in a woodsy, cabin-type theme. It reminded us of the time we spend in the Smokies and made us look forward to our upcoming trip over Christmas vacation.

When we asked Lester how much the three trees would cost, with decorations, he said he'd just have to take everything off and add it up. We decided to let him do it and go ahead and buy it. After several minutes of pulling decorations, making lists, adding up all the birds, stockings, snowmen, berries, ribbon and trees, and throwing in a few more snowy berry branches, the total price was $400.62. We loaded the decorations and made arrangements to pick up the trees at Lester's house the next morning.

Impulse buys? I don't really think we know how to make any large purchases without making impulse decisions. We often wait and watch before buying things - usually for many months - and then suddenly something jumps out at us as the perfect option and we buy it. I'd been planning to re-do the entire Christmas tree this year anyway, and I'd been watching for colors and themes at Hobby Lobby and Kimmswick. Then, when we found the right one, we knew it.

So . . . the long awaited pictures of our three Christmas trees: