Finding the Perfect Tree

Last Sunday it was time for our annual Christmas tree hunting extravaganza! We had high hopes as the last two years our trees have been terrible. They were the usual sparseness that Colorado trees have to offer, but they were also very weak, barely holding more than one ornament per branch. Maybe that's exaggerating, but pretty close to the truth. I've been very tempted to take down the tree and go get one from a grocery lot!

However, for our family, it's a tradition to get a tree from the US Forest Service and we do love the experience. So with determination, we joined two other families to find some great trees for our homes.


We first stopped at the ranger station to see if Smokey the Bear was out...even though we don't need to be warned of forest fires at this time of the year. We weren't disappointed.


Got a group pic of my good friends Meaghan, Jenny and I with some of the kids. We each had 3 kiddos who braved the elements. This was not a warm day.


Elly, it's time to leave Smokey and go find a tree...


We all headed out...dad's with sleds, mom's with packs, some kids on snowshoes, some in sleds.


Nate and his buddy Jack on snowshoes.


Mac kept Elly on the sled...


...Sam was pulling.


There were a few spills.

Looking across a trench, Sam thought he might have spotted a grove of trees. Picture Chevy Chase seeing "the tree" in Christmas vacation...this is what Sam was sure he saw. So we all hiked down into the trench, but then let Sam and another dad, Jon, hike up to the other side by themselves since it was getting at least knee deep. We stayed in the trench while the kids played.


Elly and Janelle playing. This was before they got cold. Elly hit a point that she was cold and she wanted to go home. Fortunately, this was also when Sam brought down our tree.


Here's the beauty! Check out all the pine cones, one of the things we love about the Colorado trees! Oh yeah, and this was when Elly had had it.


Sam hiked back up to get some friend's a tree that couldn't make it, and Mac promptly popped the tree on the sled and started pulling it back towards the truck. I tried to tell him that it would be too heavy and we should wait for dad, but he was determined since that was the whole reason he brought his sled. So I got the rope around the tree to keep it on and Mac hauled it out. I was really impressed. He didn't complain, just kept inching in the direction of the truck. Wouldn't even let me help.


Look at this kid work! This reminds me of the poor dog on the "Grinch that stole Christmas!"


Much to Elly's delight, we all made it back to the truck (Mac got some help from another dad to finish the trek), and had some hot cider.


This little elf was also delighted.


It was a quiet trip home.


There it is! I am very happy with this tree. Yes, it's still sparse, but it's not wimpy. It did somehow come crashing down after decorating it Sunday night (a cat might have been involved), and I have yet to get the lights on nice again and all the ornaments back on, but hopefully by Christmas you'll get a view of the finished product.

Daddy's Girl

Elly has really turned into a Daddy's girl lately. She adores him, it's quite cute and her daddy is eating it up! Sam just gets a huge smile on his face with all her affection. When she gets up in the morning, she goes to his office first thing and stands as close as she can to him until he notices...then she crawls into his lap for a big hug.

The boys have gotten their dates with Sam, but Elly hadn't had one yet. Last night was her first. Sam looked at her and said, "Elly, what do you think of just you and I going on a date tonight?" She replied, "Sure daddy!" and "bye mommy" as she ran to get her coat and boots on. She was quite excited.


They headed to McDonalds for some ice cream. Sam said she was the best conversationalist out of all the kids on their dates...couldn't stop talking.


This is one happy girl!

One funny story about Elly, the other night I was tucking Elly into bed when she wanted to tell me a story. It started like this: Once upon a time there was a princess. The princess's name was King of Awesomeness. King of Awesomeness was going on a walk... How many little girl's have that name for a princess?! Her big brothers continue to rub off on her. :)