We got a Christmas tree!

We decided to try something new this year. Our tradition in the past was to go to a tree lot and pick something out, then flock it and bring it into the house. Lindsay loves noble firs and I have come to like them as well.

This year we heard about a Christmas tree farm about 20 minutes away, so we decided to go check it out and cut down our own tree. It was a blast! We delayed a couple days because it rained all weekend but on Sunday we decided to go anyway. I grabbed a couple Goretex jackets and we headed up there in the new truck. You drive in the front of the farm and they hand you a saw. Then you get to drive all over the farm (which was HUGE) and find your dream tree. When you cut it down, they come pick it up, shake the dead stuff out, wrap it up in a net, and load it into your vehicle (or tie it on top). Full service! And we paid probably half (or less) of what you would pay in a tree lot.

Sooo...I am really glad we had the truck. It had been raining for 3 days so everything was muddy and real soggy. Lindsay got a small crash course in muddy driving conditions and how to recover from a slide. I VERY nearly got stuck but was able to get out by getting the last teeny bit of traction out of some grass that is no longer in the ground. Remember how I said I wouldn't need 4 wheel drive? Well, I wished I had it as I was thinking about how embarrassing it would be to get pulled out. The mud didn't really stick since things were so wet, but here is a little bit left on the truck.

They didn't have noble firs, so we had to pick a different kind of tree. We made up for it by finding a big one, but we sure didn't realize how big it was until I dragged it into the house and stood it up. It is a 9 1/2 foot tree and we have 10 foot ceilings...and the thing weighs about 150 pounds. Here is Gracie next to it while it is still netted.

Getting it into the house was a nightmare, but trying to get it stood up was worse. It looks like the leaning tower of Pisa right here and I was hoping it wouldn't fall over. It actually did fall once, fortunately onto the couch.

Next I started cutting the net away from the top.

We finally the whole tree got free...then we realized what a monster it really is. Notice the 550 cord tying it to the window frame. I was worried about it falling onto someone so I put a nail into the window and tied it in. It corrected the lean a little bit too.

I had to use a ladder to string the lights. Gracie enjoyed helping hold the lights for me as I was putting them on.

This is blurry because it was dark. I was trying to get a picture of what it looks like with the lights out. It is awesome! I don't know if we will go through the pain of such a monster next year, but it sure does look (and smell) good.