On a fine day in mid-December, the Twinns at the Twinn Continuum decided it was time to decorate the house for Christmas. Randy and Peter were sent off to find a suitable tree, while the girls started cleaning off the porch.
"Time to put away the Halloween cat," commented Carin. "See you next year, pal."
"How did we get all this junk out here?" asked Harmony. "Whatever do we want with this big pot of stones?" Harmony tried to pick it up. "Ugh, it weighs a ton!"

"Annette says you never know when stones will come in handy," Carin replied. "Here, let me help you."
"Well, there are enough stones here to fill up the Grand Canyon. Some of these stones will have to go next year when we clean up again."
Together the girls lugged the pot of stones into the back yard and set it by the garage.
"What about this Twinn box?" asked Rory. "When did we get a new Twinn? And who was it?"
"Ann Marie, the Madison from France. She arrived the other day," said Jane, who was rolling up a rug.
"Oh yes, now I remember." Rory nodded.
Amelia was untangling the string of icicle lights. "Keep the box here, Rory," she called. "I can use it to stand on to put up the lights." "OK," said Rory, and went on to work on folding up the chairs instead.

Amelia and Jane started working on the lights. "Hand me that pipe cleaner," Jane requested.
Amelia gave her a long red pipe cleaner. "This is going to look great when we get the garland on top. And it's so easy to hang these lights with the pipe cleaners. Who figured that out?"
"I don't know," Amelia admitted. "We always seem to have done it that way."
"I guess it's just one of those mysterious Christmas traditions," Jane said with a smile. "There's no telling how they got started!"

Meanwhile, Randy and Peter were in the back yard. They spied a beautiful blue spruce tree that was just the right size for a Twinn Christmas tree.
"Look at that, Pete, it's perfect!" Randy was just about to crank up his chain saw when Annette appeared out of nowhere.
"Not if you value your life!!" she scolded, standing in front of the tree to protect it.

"But..." Randy started to say.
"But nothing," Annette replied. "We are going to go to the lot and BUY a tree. Go get the wagon!"
Jane and Amelia Rose had tied up all the icicle lights. They yelled for Cecilia, who was in the house, to turn on the switch. Instantly the lights began to shine. "Oooh," said all the girls. "That will look great when it is dark."
"We're ready for the garland," Jane announced. "Where is it?"
"I have it," called Paris from down in front of the porch.

"Paris, I think it has you," laughed Amelia, as she and Jane hurried down to unwrap Paris from the garland.
Just then the boys and Annette pulled up with the Christmas tree.

In a few minutes the tree was carried up onto the porch and put in the stand. "Isn't it awfully skinny?" asked Paris, as Carin was straightening it. Everyone giggled.
"Don't worry, Paris, it will open up when we take the string off," Rory assured her.
"And save the string. We can use it next summer to tie up Harmony's pole beans," Annette ordered.
"Is there anything she doesn't find a use for?" whispered Carin to Amelia.
"No, I don't think so."

Soon the tree was unwrapped and everyone admired it.
"This is our best tree yet!" Amelia dragged over the Twinn box and started putting on the lights. "Good job, guys!"

Peter and Jane and Amelia worked together on the lights while Rory and Harmony went to rummage in the garage for ornaments and Randy went to get a bucket of water to put in the tree stand.

Meanwhile Annette and Paris went to the back yard to decorate the little tree that Annette would not let the boys cut down. "I am glad you saved our tree," said Paris to Annette. "I was sorry that a tree had to be cut down to be our Christmas tree."

"Don't worry, Paris - for every Christmas tree that is cut down, they plant one or two more to take its place. Also after we take down the Christmas decorations, we can use the tree branches for mulch, and Randy can cut it up so Jo can use the wood for church bulletins at Easter time. Nothing will go to waste."
"Oh, that makes me feel better," said Paris. "Thanks, Annette."
"Maybe we can pop some of that popcorn we grew and string it and put it on the tree for the birds," Annette suggested.
"If the boys don't eat it all!"
As everyone was busy working, a taxi brought Mie home from a shopping expedition. "Randy, be a dear and help me with these bags," she called.
"Wow," said Randy, lugging several heavy shopping bags up the stairs. "You must have gotten all your Christmas shopping done early."
Mie laughed, "Well, all my shopping for ME! The sales were so good, I thought I'd better get some things I've been wanting. I still have all my Christmas gift shopping to do!"