Going hunting...Christmas-tree-style

With Christmas quickly approaching, it was high time to get ourselves a Christmas tree. Back when Lillia was a baby, we started a family tradition of cutting down our Christmas tree in the woods. While we don't always have the most beautiful tree, we certainly take away some great memories and have some good laughs about our "Charlie Brown tree".

After church, we changed clothes, donned hats, gloves, snowpants and jackets and headed out. Before we got all dressed, little Anabella was asleep in her Gramp's arms. So, Anabella and Gramps stayed home and took naps while the rest of us adventured out to get our tree.

Ssshhhh! Anabella's sleeping! (And Gramps isn't too far behind)


I still can't get over the beauty we are surrounded by here in Big Sky. It took us just 10 minutes to get to the National Forest to find our tree. When we first got out of the van, the kids were a little hesitant about exploring and were complaining it was cold! It didn't take long, however, until we were having to reel in the kids and leave because we (the adults!) were getting cold.

John and I were a little concerned about just how long it would take to have all 7 (with Anabella sleeping) of us agree on one tree. In the past, it has taken quite a family conference to decide, and there were only a few of us! But, the perfect trees were obvious to all and within a very short time, we all had made a decision and were cutting our tree. All the kids had a turn using the saw, and while waiting for their turns, they collected pinecones, snow berries, dried bear grass, puzzle plants, twigs, rocks, pine needles and rosehips. I am continually amazed and delighted with their creativity and inventiveness. They wanted to collect various items to make wreaths! Pretty clever - I certainly hadn't thought of doing that, but what fun they had filling up our pockets with all sorts of great finds!

That's the one!


Having fun in the woods!


Olesya, our little woodsman.


"Timber," yells Lillia.


After loading up the kids in the van, along with all their treasures, John tied the tree on the top of the van and away we went. Just as we turned onto the highway, our tree went flying off the roof and onto the road. We turned around at the first spot we could find, and as we returned for the tree, we saw another truck had stopped for the trees. "How nice," I thought - they are picking up our tree for us. It became quickly apparent, however, that they were doing a little tree hunting for themselves! John, in his leisurely, calm manner, sauntered out of the van while they were throwing the tree in the back of their pickup, and jumping in to leave the "crime scene". I wasn't quite so calm, and laid on the horn and shook my head (complete with my "Teacher Look"!) at them. I wasn't about to have some young girls take off with our perfect tree! Once we convinced them it was ours, we loaded it inside the van and headed home.

Always an adventure!!!