Tree Hunting

This year we had every intention of heading into the Santa Cruz mountains to cut down our Christmas tree.  After we were rained out twice, it became more important that we got A tree, and not where we obtained said tree. 

With that in mind, we went for a fun dinner out and then out to choose (not cut!) our tree.

To be honest, the kids seemed much more excited about the silly photo props and ride-on trolley (that DOESN'T move!), than picking the actual tree.

 

They did, however, enjoy watching the lower limbs be taken off and the tree stand put on.  Of course, Luke decided that they looked like perfect reindeer antlers!

 

 

 On our way home

Home with the tree



Happy, excited kids

Tree Hunt

This year we went back to the same Christmas tree lot as we visited last year because they are one of not very many places locally that have silver tip pine trees.  We just love how long they last and how much space they have between the branches, which leaves lots of room for lights and ornaments.

We headed out to choose our tree and have dinner out together one weeknight this past week.

Checking out all of the trees

We found it!

Cheese!  Taking our tree home.

Tree huntin'

Our search for the perfect Christmas tree took us on quite the tour this year. And to think that we were planning on doing it the "easy" way. We headed out early on a Saturday morning and stopped for bagels, coffee, and jamba juice before heading to our local (and in recent years, favorite) Christmas tree lot ... only to find that it was no longer there :(

We trekked to a couple of other places before finding a lot with many silver tip pines. I happen to love the look of those particular trees, so we stopped and ended up getting our tree there.

Despite the fact that it started to rain, Luke had fun!

Loading up ... kids and the tree!

Luke "helping" Daddy get the tree set up in the house

Mia "helping" decorate

A little fresh air

Sometimes you just need a little fresh air, a change of scenery, something fun to do with your favorite peeps...

...so we took a little day trip out to Big Basin over the weekend. We weren't there long, but we hiked, we checked out some trees, we breathed in that air, and we were together. It was wonderful.

The Christmas Tree Adventure

Well, that title might be a bit much for our escapade this year. You see, we learned quite a lot from our quest for the perfect tree last year. Last year Daddy and I were somehow convinced that we could find a Christmas tree farm that had the perfect tree ... and even after finding one that we really, really liked, we kept shopping - only to end up back at the very first place we started, with the first tree we liked (which we ended up LOVING and calling the "best tree ever"). SO, this year, we went straight back to the place right around the corner where we got that beautiful tree last year. It took us about a total of an hour to get our tree this year (and that included a stop at Starbucks!). It was easy ... and short of cutting down a tree ourselves (which we will hopefully do someday), we aren't going to find a more beautiful tree.

Here are some photos documenting this year's trip:

On our way

Checking them all out:


We got one!

"Helping" Daddy bring it into the house (in Luke's words, "My help you, Daddy"):

Sequoia National Forest

While Grandma and Grandpa visited this week, we took a short trip to Sequoia National Forest. It was fun for everyone, especially Luke. He LOVED being outside and hiking along the trails. He seemed most fascinated with trees that had fallen down (?). On the first day, we hiked to General Sherman. This was not the easiest of hikes for a 2 year old, but he did the whole hike almost entirely by himself (riding only on Daddy's shoulders for a few minutes!). The people on the trail with us were amazed that he was able to do this.

The next day we did some driving around the park and then also hiked to the General Grant. Again, Luke loved being outside and checking out all the plant and animal life along the way.