It was not for lack of effort that I threw a huge, rusty wrench in our beloved tradition. I’ve cherished our tree hunting day each year. It means as much to me as it does to Addi. I look forward to the shrieks when they locate their special tree. Our Christmas card picture is taken on this day and I LOVE Christmas card picture day. I love the sledding, the hot chocolate, the excited romp through snow-covered forests. It wasn’t a premeditated decision. It wasn’t planned. It just hit me one morning when I swept and vacuumed a years worth of needles. I gasped at the very fact that I was evening thinking about it. I anticipated a little resistance, but I never expected they would try and ban me from Christmas!
But I was ready for a change. I was tired of the mess. I have to admit I want a “pretty” tree. The messy looking lights have always annoyed me. I wanted a simpler solution. This may be that pivotal point in my life when I look back and say, “That was the first time I felt like a real adult.”
After only a short hike, the kids found their trees in record time. Our living room tree was harvested, however, just as darkness fell. It was clinging to a deep snowy mountain side. It was alone and very sad looking. It was a hurry-up-its-getting-dark decision. It looked okay, but a little off in its coloring. “It’ll do”, I said, as I tried to hide my disappointment. On the east side of the mountains we find it difficult to find a suitable Christmas tree. These forests seem to be predominantly lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine and juniper. I’m sure we just haven’t found the right place to search.
We stood it up into the tree stand, it seems each year the tree stood un-proudly and a little crooked. I placed the star and strung the lights. The kids eagerly placed each ornament as we talked about each special memory, vacation or person they represented. Landon claimed his special ornaments and hung them all on the same branch. Addi meticulously decorates, sure to evenly place each ornament. I try hard to resist the urge to go behind them and rearrange the ornaments.
It wasn’t the tree’s fault. We should have left it there on its hillside to live out its life. It just wasn’t meant to fulfill its Christmas-tree duty and we chose it in hast. The next morning I took off each ornament and unstrung the lights. That tree was fired! It severely drooped and dropped so many needles I knew it would not make it until Christmas.
We went hunting one last time, this time to Lowes. We were sucessful!
She tried to be mad at me the whole day! Even when she was decorating she would throw a couple nasty looks my way. I caught her enjoying the new tree, despite her belief that Santa will not leave presents under a fake tree!
A few outtakes from our horrible family shoot. Addison was SO crabby, she had a headache and would not cooperate. Landon was super goofy with his big ‘ol silly grin! Daddy was daddy. In front of the camera is the very last place he ever wants to be. I kept forgetting to hide my little remote so you can see it in my hand in so many pictures… duh!
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