cut and color

This is how we get our Christmas tree....

Pile into the truck and drive a few miles down the road the day after Thanksgiving (this year it was actually a few days after).

Park the truck, and everyone gets out (except for Kanyon who refuses to make the hike).

Start hiking the uphill trail (and, for me, taking lots of breaks along the way).

Find the perfect Christmas tree (it was super cold this year, so this was our fastest find yet!).

Cut it down (with a handsaw).
Roll it down the hill to the trail (we all love to watch it and say whee!!!!).
Carry it back to the truck (more like "drag" it back to the truck).

Take a group photo (that's why I go--to make sure we get a picture taken!!).
Put it in the back of the truck to haul it home (or, in this case, put all FOUR in the back of the truck--one for us, one for the grandparents, one for a brother, and one for our friend).
Load up selves into the front of the truck once more and drive home (all squished for just 10 minutes).

Unload tree(s).

Cut off the bottom of our tree and fit it into the base. (Josh's job)

Take it in the house and set it in place (after the furniture has been rearranged, of course!).

Hang lights on it (Kala's job)

Put up the decorations (I have two sets of lights and ornaments that I rotate between each year; this year it was the multi-colored lights and red & gold ornaments).
And enjoy it for a month! (I took it down the day after Christmas this year)

{This was the largest Christmas tree we've ever gotten, and I absolutely loved it! The last few years we've had to get a smaller tree and put it in the kitchen because there was no other room to put it in the house. I was SO excited to bring it into our new home and see it fill up space in the living room! My favorite time of each day to admire it was at dusk--it always seemed to sparkle, and it made me so happy!!}