Christmas tradition?

Well, in my family growing up we always got a "live" Christmas tree so we never went to the mountains or a Christmas tree farm or even a u-cut place.  We always had rather small trees that we put up on cinder blocks to be taller and attempt to fill our large spacious and vaulted ceiling living room.

In our family now, we have gotten our trees a number of ways.  In fact, just about every way possible.  Our first year we went to the mountains outside of Enumclaw and hiked and trudged through the snow and carried a HUGE tree back on our little Honda Civic to Federal Way, where we lived in our first apartment.  Since then we have gone to a few u-cut farms, the local grocery store (Haggen), the local growers market (Youngstocks) and we've bought a live tree too that we planted at our apartment after Christmas.  This year Aven was big enough that I thought it would be fun to take her up to the snow.

We packed up the car with bundles of clothes for Mommy, Daddy and kiddo including the doggies.  We packed snacks and Christmas music and saw and boots and we were off.  As we slowly drove up the road it seemed as if we weren't even going to see snow but eventually there were some dustings and then the dustings turned into snow and more snow and more snow.  I gripped the door handle as Abe drove us higher and higher into the mountains.  Once we went a suitable distance up, we attempted to turn the car around but got stuck.  Luckily there were some really kind people (who happened to go to our church) that were parked right by us so they helped us get out (we borrowed their chains).  Then we helped them get out too!  We wandered around looking for a perfect tree but when you are in the woods you begin to narrow down the definition of "perfect."

Perfect morphs into: not too lopsided, not too sparse, not 50 miles up this mountain!  Not down in a gully or up on a mountain side!  After wandering around for a a bit and scouting a possible tree, we wandered some more and then back again to the original selection.  After getting it home, it is really too large and really too sparse, but at least we had a good time.

Like all family outings especially with kids, I am learning not to expect the perfect moments.  I always think things will be magical like our kids first time on the beach (began in tears) or her first chance to play in the snow (began in tears as well).  But I suppose this is a good lesson to learn about anything.  It isn't the moments that always sparkle and shine but the moments spent together that make memories and tradition.

Geared up and ready to go.

Not exactly thrilled about being in the snow.

Happier when Mom is holding her.

Victory at last!

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.  I'll be honest: this year has been a difficult one for many reasons and on many levels but I will say that I am so blessed to have a beautiful amazing and sweet daughter and a supporting, loving and dedicated husband and two amusing and loving doggies that help me get through all the days, weeks and months.  Many blessings to all of you during this season.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year