Notes: Thanks to Mari and Sammy for being their always awesome selves. You're the best, ladies!

Readers and REAL McRollers - Thank you for your amazing support! It is always appreciated.

Hope you enjoy!

To Theme or Not to Theme (A McRoll in the REAL World Story by Mari and Ilna)

Angie tugged at her mother's hand as they walked through Ala Moana Mall, looking at the bright holiday decorations. "Can we go in the Christmas Tree Shop, pleeeease?"

Catherine smiled down at her daughter. "That's a lot of trees, isn't it? Do you want to go check them out?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Angie did a little hop in place making her curls bounce along.

"We already have a tree at home, remember." Catherine reminded her. "We're just going to look and maybe we can pick out a new ornament or two."

"Okay, Mommy, maybe they have goat ones!"

Steve chuckled, ruffling DJ's hair as they followed Catherine and Angie into the Christmas Tree Shop that had hundreds of decorated trees. "What's your favorite kind, buddy?"

DJ shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I don't know, Daddy. I love our tree at home. These are pretty nice, though. Maybe not the pink or silver ones, they look too fake."

"I agree. And I think we have the perfect tree at home, too."

The family walked through the shop, checking out the variety of themed trees on display.

"Look! That one is a Disney princess tree!" Angie pointed at a tree adorned with sparkly princess ornaments. "Joanie would love it."

"That is pretty amazing. What about you, DJ? Do you like the superhero themed tree?" Catherine asked, gesturing to one adorned with action figures and capes.

"It's cool," DJ said with a smile. "But that baseball one's awesome. Can you take a picture for Grandma Ang?"

Catherine did just that and texted it. "She'll love it."

"Daddy, there's a Navy tree." Angie pointed to a tree decked out with blue lights and nautical ornaments. "It's got rank 'signias! There's a lieutenant one for Mommy and lieutenant commander for you and captain for Grandpa …" She marveled at the themed ornaments until another tree caught her eye. "It's a dog and cat tree! All the ornaments are dogs and cats!" She whirled to face Steve. "Take a picture for Cammie, Pumpkin and Luna, Daddy. Please?"

He laughed and pulled out his phone. "Done."

"Yay! Can we get a black cat one? We have ones that look like Cammie and Pumpkin. That one looks like Luna, it's even fluffy like her."

"It does look like her," DJ agreed, carefully lifting it off the display. "Can we get it?"

"I think Luna will like it," Catherine said with a grin at Steve as she put it in their basket.

"DJ, you gotta pick one now," Angie said.

"I have an idea," he replied, looking towards the store employee that was coming their way. "Excuse me, do you have a farm animal tree in the store?"

The college age girl whose name tag read Melissa, smiled. "Hey, I know you, you're DJ and Angie. I saw you at the self defense thing on campus." She smiled at Steve and Catherine. "I'm in Grace's marketing for hospitality class. I went to your self defense seminar, Lieutenant, It was great."

"That's good to hear, thanks. Nice to see you," Catherine said as Steve nodded a hello.

"We do have a farm animal tree, it's at the end of the next aisle." She pointed. "Have a great holiday."

They thanked her and the kids led the way to the tree. "There!" DJ said. "Since you got the cat for Luna, I'll pick the goat for Felix."

Angie beamed and flung her arms around him. "Thank you! You're the best brother ever!"

Steve ruffled his hair as Catherine removed a goat that resembled Felix from a high branch. "You really are, buddy. Great idea.

"Thanks, Daddy!" He beamed. "I think we should get a Cubs ornament, too."

"Definitely. And how about we get a pineapple one for your Uncle Danny and then we can go grab some lunch?"

The kids laughed at his suggestion, well knowing their uncle's aversion to the fruit, especially on his beloved pizza.

Once they had finished their lunch in the food court, Angie made an announcement.

"I think our tree should have a theme, too," she said with a decisive nod. "Like the ones in the store where all the ornaments are about the same thing."

"A theme?" Steve asked, sharing a look with Catherine as they both immediately guessed what Angie's preferred theme would be.

"Yeah, like the princess one, or the rainbow one, or the Navy one," she explained. "We could do that."

"And what would our theme be …?" Catherine asked, already knowing the answer.

Angie gave a little shrug. "We could do one of those … or we could do goats," she suggested.

"A goat tree," Steve repeated, fighting a smile.

"Yeah!"

"But we only have one goat ornament," he said. "The one we just bought."

"We could get more," Angie replied easily. She took the goat ornament out of the bag and unwrapped it. "Isn't it so cute?"

"What about the other ornaments we just got?" DJ asked. "The Luna ornament and the pineapple?"

Angie twisted her lips, thinking. "Well, we could put those up, too. I bet goats like to eat pineapples, and Luna would love to meet a goat if we could take her to the zoo to see Felix."

"And what about all our ornaments at home?" Catherine asked. "Daddy just brought the box into the living room so we can decorate the tree."

"They could stay in the box this year," Angie said. "Daddy can put them back in the garage."

"Even the ones that look like Cammie and Pumpkin?" Catherine asked.

Angie paused. "Well, those could go up, too. Cammie and Pumpkin love goats."

"And what about the special engraved snowman ornaments DJ gave us in New Jersey?" Steve asked.

Angie's eyes widened and she didn't hesitate in her reply. "Those definitely have to go on the tree."

"What about the Donald Duck ornament from when Mommy was little?" DJ asked, catching on to his parents' tactic. "You love making him dance."

Angie giggled. "It's so funny. That has to go on the tree, too."

"There are all the ornaments with photos in them," Catherine continued. "From your first Christmas, and DJ's first Christmas, and all our family photos."

"I love those," Angie said seriously. "They should go on, too."

"Oh! The Santa playing football and the 'Son' train that were Daddy's from when he was a kid," DJ said excitedly.

Angie nodded. "Yes, yes!"

"And the unbreakable ornament that Nonna gave us," Steve said, reaching over to squeeze Catherine's hand. "That's a very special ornament to us."

"It's so beautiful," Angie agreed. "And it's from Nonna so it has to go on the tree."

"And the compass!" DJ said. "We have to hang the special compass, right?"

"Oh yes!" Angie said. "True north!"

"True north," Catherine repeated with a soft smile at Steve who squeezed her hand again.

"And the ball with the special sand," DJ added, and Angie immediately nodded.

"Plus all of the wonderful handmade ornaments we have that you two have made, and the Allens, and Grace …" Catherine went on. "It would be hard not to hang those up. They bring such happy memories, just like all our other ornaments."

Angie bit her lip, her gaze falling on the goat ornament on the table in front of her. She picked it up, looking at it carefully, and then straightened, setting it back down. "I changed my mind," she said. "I don't think we should have a tree with just goat ornaments on it. We should have all our ornaments on our tree."

Steve smiled. "I'm glad you think so, baby girl. So do I."

"Me, too," DJ said.

"Me, three," Catherine added.

Angie beamed. "We all think the same!"

"We do," Steve said with a chuckle. "At least on this."

Catherine noticed DJ's thoughtful expression and asked, "What is it, honey?"

"I was just thinking … well, I think our Christmas tree does have a theme." He smiled. "Family memories."

Catherine smiled and leaned over to kiss his head. "Sweet boy."

"I think you're exactly right, buddy," Steve agreed. "Our tree holds so many of our family memories and I love remembering them every year as we decorate."

DJ turned to his sister. "What do you think, Angie?"

Her eyes had gone wide. "That's the best theme ever!" she cried. "It's even better than goats!"

They all laughed and Steve kissed her head. "Better than goats, huh? Then what d'you say we wrap that goat ornament back up, take it home and get it on the tree, along with all of our other very special family memory ornaments?"

"I say, let's go!"

Hope you enjoyed!

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