Iwanted to do something special this year for Christmas. As the years slip away and I see a point coming when our boys will be out on their own and not necessarily able to join us for the holidays, I felt as if we should do something memorable this year. We decided that we would go to a tree farm in the mountains and cut down a tree. I quickly looked online and saw there were several tree farms, but I left it in Scott's hands to schedule. 
On Friday, last week, we all piled in the van for the two and a half hour trip that would take us to Beaver Creek Lodge where we planned to get the tree. Scott was excited because they offered a sleigh ride to go out and get your tree (he knows how much I want to take a winter sleigh ride). Well, normally they do. This year, the year we decide to go, was only the second time they ever remember being without snow during the holiday season. Therefore we ended up taking a carriage ride instead. As we bumped along the ruts in the dirt path and occasional ice, we laughed about having to take a ride like this across the country as the pioneers did. On the way, Clara, our host, told us to be on the look out for a tree as we were heading down the path. All of us scanned to the right and left as we clunked along to the small wood cabin where we parked. Our hostess handed us the saw and told us to go find a tree. We glanced at one another then walked off to find the "perfect" tree. We climbed up a hill, some of us with the help of our hands as well as feet since it was somewhat steep, looked and looked for the "one". Did you realize tree's in the wild do not really make the best Christmas trees? They certainly aren't as full and shapely as the ones at McCoys over on Havana St. We tromped through the snowy woods and found nothing. We were slipping and sliding on the angled hill. Scott was wearing shoes that were about ten years old and had no traction, Hunter had found a stick to use as a walking stick to help keep from sliding downward. Robert handed me a walking stick that was so small, I called his name, had him look over and leaned on it. Quickly it snapped in two and we all laughed. Hunter then found one, that wasn't a twig, which helped greatly ! We had given up in the area we were at. Most of the trees were growing right next to another therefore one side would be bald, the other full and beautiful. After sliding down the hillside to the "road", I asked Scott if he thought we were going to be searching in the woods for a tree or a Christmas tree farm. He thought the same way I had, that we would be at an actual tree farm.
We went back to the cabin, had hot chocolate and cookies and chatted for a short time with Clara. Then it was time to head back to the stable where she had her next group of people waiting to go out. She told us of other areas to search and mentioned the already cut tree's we could look at. We decided after we arrived back at the stable to look at a couple of spots we could walk to. The boys headed off in the direction of the pond that was frozen over as Scott and I took off down a road to the left. We finally found it ! It was by no means what we were looking for but it was somewhat symmetrical. When the boys had found us, Scott and Robert cut the tree down and cut off some extra since it was a bit tall. Then Hunter and Nicholas carried it back to the car. It really was a memorable day with a lot of laughter and fun. it may not have been the "Thomas Kinkade" trip that Scott had wanted it to be but it was definitely a trip no one will forget !
Decorating the tree was a challenge, that is why it is sparse in that department. Every time we put on an ornament, the branches would sag. We even had a couple ornaments that fell off as we bedecked other areas of the tree. At least they didn't break as they hit the floor.
Have a wonderful Christmas! Make those memories and rejoice, the King is born !
TTFN,
Margaret
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