[magnolia]

We used to put our tree and decorations up by the first week-end in December but now, I put it up the day after Thanksgiving. My sister, BIL, niece, and her husband spend Thanksgiving with us each year and can't come back in December (they live in Florida) so we usually have Christmas with them the Friday evening after Thanksgiving. This year, my niece and her hubby have to go back to Florida Friday afternoon for a wedding on Saturday morning so.....depending on how I feel, I may put the tree up Wednesday night before Thanksgiving as we are going to have to exchange our gifts with them Thanksgiving night. When I was little, my mom always took the tree down either on Christmas Day or the day after as we left to go to my grandparents - she said she didn't want to come home after New Years and take the tree down so she did it before we left. Because of this, I take my tree down the day after Christmas - and if I'm too lazy or have to work, it definitely comes down before New Years Day. Normally, I don't put a tree up until after Thanksgiving - this year may have to be the exception depending on travel times for my niece.