O Christmas Tree...

Tradition: cutting down our own Christmas tree.

How it is done:

The day after Thanksgiving, after we have pulled out all the leftovers and eaten most of the new fresh batch of homemade rolls with turkey, and put away the "day-after-Thanksgiving-dips," load everyone into the flatbed, the Yukon and whatever trucks are there. If there is a lot of snow, bring a few snow machines. Throw in the sleds, and make sure you are dressed warm.

If more people came than you have tree tags for, stop at the forest office a buy a couple more ($5.00 each...) Drive to Dry Ridge, just over the Wyoming state line.

When you get to the base of the mountain, if there is enough snow, unload the snow machines and head up the mountain, put the other vehicles in 4-wheel drive and determine if they can make it up. A few miles up you will find our special Christmas tree grove. In recent years, others have found it too. Start hiking around, listening for the sound of each other finding trees that look good and yelling, "I think I found one!!" When you actually do find "the one," pull out the ax and proceed to chop it down...

Pose next to the tree to show what a bounty you found...

Now the real fun begins...throw the trees onto the flatbed and tie the sleds to the back of the truck.

Practice balancing. Get ready for the trip back down the hill. Hang on tight! Papa's driving!

One year, my mom and I rode down in the sleds...it's fun until you tip over and fall face first into the ditch on the side of the road.

These pictures are all from 2006, the last year we did this, and the only year I have digital. But we have done this since 1997...

Christmas present:

Wear whatever you had on during the day, probably shorts. Complain when mom says to wear a coat because it has cooled down to the 50's and she is cold.

Go to Lowes (Home Depot's trees aren't as good and cost more.)

Walk past the pansies and other perennials that are being sold next to the trees.

Touch all the trees. All of them. Lift them up. Ask if you can have this one for your room.

Run in between all the trees. Lay in them. Ignore the dirty looks you are getting from the Lowes guy.

Break some of the branches on the trees. They like that.

When you find the perfect one, pick it up and move it to the aisle.

Smile while mom takes a picture of everyone by the tree.

Carry it to the cash register. Make sure that a couple of branches break so it is not perfect. Pay way too much for a tree that will be dead and dry in 2 weeks.

Get the Lowes guy to cut off the bottom so it can drink water and hopefully live until Christmas.

Then he wraps it up in tree netting and will help you tie it to the top of your car.

Stop at Braum's on the way home for milkshakes and notice the pretty holly bushes they have.

Cover kid's ears while Maris complains about having to put lights on the tree.

Let the kids decorate it with all of their ornaments from Christmas' past. Reminisce about each one and make sure to remind kids to PLEASE be careful and not break them.

Notice that Aliza's ornaments are all at her eye level...notice that Parker and Tyler each tried to get their own favorite team's ornament at the TOP of the tree...(We had the U of U and the Colorado Avalanche competing for the top spot.) Hide Maris' Cowboys ornament in the branches in the bottom of the tree to bug him, and make sure that the 49ers ornament is in full view.

Enjoy the wonderful smell of pine as the tree dries out...

Hey, it's our new "normal."

And yes, it's real and it's SPECTACULAR!