Christmas Tree time

I decided I would drag the Christmas stuff out tonight. I usually don't set anything out until later in the month, but I thought ehh why not? It only gets to sit out for a month. We can enjoy it a little longer this way. I wanted to get it all done and make the house look pretty before my husband came home from work. I figured the 8 and 2 year old would pester me beyond belief not to mention the dog, but they were all tolerable. Thank you Wii, Ipad and doggie cage! I went up to the attic shoved a years worth of junk out of my way and dug through the Christmas things. We don't have a ton. At times I wish we did but then the clean up would be horrible. I brought all the boxes down... the the trees. 3 smaller ones and then our big one. Set the tree up. Don't purchase the prelit trees. They suck. We bought it 3 years ago and the 2nd year the lights were all out! So last year I headed out and bought more, LED.... I decorated out shelves and set a few more things out then it was time to decorate the tree... lights, ribbon, ornaments... I took my time and spread out every branch and I was excited and patient. Usually I just want to get it up and it be done. I hook up the lights before I put them on the tree and guess what! YEP, most were OUT... This infuriates me!! I sat down with the 2 year old in my lap and went through every flipping bulb.. Replaced any that looked burnt out and still over half the strands weren't working. I did this for over an hour... I decided screw it I'll just get more tomorrow. Why does this happen every year? It sure blows your Christmas spirit all up in the air.. Now it's late and I have empty boxes sitting all over the house, and green tree pieces everywhere.. The house is a disaster. So much for the hubby coming home to a pretty house... I really don't want to head out tomorrow to get more lights because then I'll see everything else I want to put on the tree... Last year I decided we'd go for a green, gold and brown look for the tree. I really like it. My husband is sick of the brown everywhere in the house but hey, it matches everything. Now instead of one of my 30 minute clean ups, I need to do it in 10 minutes.. because I'm ready for bed!!