Tree Hunt 2011

It is what we do.  It is a tradition.  No matter how cold.  No matter how snowy, rainy, nasty.  We bundle up.  We ride in a wagon that is made of wood.  We bump up and down on a dirt road that leads to a forest of trees.  Evergreen trees.  In that field is all our hopes and dreams of finding the most perfect imperfect tree to cut down and place in our living room.  The memories are etched in my head.  I have gone since I was little.  My dad and brother used to get annoyed and bored of my mom, sister, and I hunting for the perfect imperfect tree.   When Mike and I started dating he soon learned that this would be one tradition I would fight to keep going.  He quickly understood the frustrations of my brother and father!  You see that perfect imperfect tree had to be decided by all 3 of us females.

The tree couldn’t be too tall, too short, too skinny, too fat, shaped – but not perfectly shaped so as to not have character, needed to have sturdy branches for heavy ornaments, and holes – but not too many.  The perfect imperfect tree.  I remember one year, every tree we found was too perfect for my mom..so after hours, I do mean hours..we headed back up the hill to come back another day, after all it was getting dark.  The owner looked puzzled.  “You didn’t find anything?”  My mom smiled and said “your trees are too perfect”.  He laughed and told us there were some trees that didn’t pass the perfect test and were going to be cut down and burned at the end of the season if we wanted to take a look, said we could have it for $10 if we found one worthy of our hearts.  We went and about half hour later we had our perfect imperfect tree!  (I don’t think he thought we would find one!!)

We didn’t care how long it took us, we didn’t care how snowy it was.  We didn’t care if we were numb from our toes to nose.  The perfect imperfect tree was worth the hunt!  We would take hours.  I do mean hours!  We would mark the trees with gloves, hats, scarfs, and men.  The men typically annoyed would say I am not moving till you decide!  So markers they became.  Once we found the one we then had to find dad, cut it down, then search for all our accessories.  Pretty sure a few years we didn’t find everything!!

The tradition has continued.  It doesn’t take nearly as long, maybe when Ruthie is older she will have more of an opinion..but for now we go, we hunt, we find, we cut.  All done it 2 hours tops!  It is a fun time.  Makes for great memories.  I love it.  Ruthie loves it.  I think Mike tolerates it!   This year we took Cassie and James with us.

 

 

 

It was not horribly cold, rainy, or snowy this year, but we still had fun.

 

 

 

 

 

Our tree was found in the first 10 minutes, but of course we had to walk all the way down each row, just to make sure it is the was infact the one.   Mike was proud that he was the one that found.  He was also very happy it only took us 1 hour

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the great find we head back to the lodge for popcorn and hot chocolate.  I think it is what keeps the kids happy!!

 

 

 

 

Once home we set it up and then typically everyone goes to bed, but because it only took us an hour we had plenty of time and it was such a fun day,  I let the kids and Mike help me decorate it!  We put on some Christmas music, strung the lights, went out and bought more lights, wrapped the garland around and hung the ornaments.

   Lastly, Mike helped Ruthie place the angel on top.Completion.  Our perfect imperfect Christmas tree.These are the memories that will last a lifetime for Ruthie.  I am overwhelmed by the blessings I have in this moment.  Makes the world seems still.  Makes the struggles of daily life worth it.  Makes the internal struggle non-existent.  In the realm of what could be, I am so overly blessed with what God has given me and entrusted in my care!

Merry Christmas!

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