Christmas traditions

My family is VERY tradition oriented when it comes to Christmas. EVERYTHING has to be done "right" or my girls (and Nigel) get very upset! It gets a little hard with Kirsten being away at school. In the past couple of years she has come home the weekend before finals and we had a chance to put up our tree. Well, this year she is waiting to come home after her finals are over. That means we put up our tree "late". So, Chelsea, Nigel and I picked out the tree without Kirsten this year.... I have mixed emotions about this. My baby is growing up and maybe next year won't even be able to be with us at Christmas!!! :-( Anyway, we got the tree and put lights on it, but we are waiting until she gets home to put the ornaments on. That seemed like a good compromise - since I wanted the tree up sooner. If it was up to me, I would put it up at Thanksgiving and leave it up until after New Years Day. I've never done that before. Does a real tree last that long? Does anyone know???? Would my kids revolt/complain because "that's not how we always do it!"