It's Perfect

We are a real tree family. It is one of my most treasured Christmas traditions. 

Growing up Mom, Audri and I would always drive down to Richmond to cut down the "perfect" tree. I love those memories, priceless doesn't describe them. 

This year, as it has been the past 4 years, we go the Christmas tree farm that is located near the Delaware/Randolph county line. Hobson's Christmas Tree Farm. 

It was the perfect weather for tree hunting. It was lightly snowing, not too cold, and the sun was shining. We are always greeted by a warm, smiling face, handed a saw and wished "happy hunting". We then walk by the firepit, the donkey cleverly named Eeyore, and into the midst of a few hundred trees anxiously waiting to be cut down. Well, maybe that was an overstatement, but I am sure the one that we always choose is happy to have two very excited little girls doting over it. 

It did not take us long this year to choose our tree. It was right up front, the perfect height, short needled and a little too fat......... perfect.  Well, Shannon and I are thinking wonderful, we don't have to walk all the way to the back of the farm. It really is a "good piece" back to the back. (We did get a tree all the way on the back row one year). 

Well, our littlest woman was having no part of it. Lillie got so upset that we didn't walk around and look. I mean she was upset! Why does there have to be crying on this joyous occasion? So, of course, we compromised. We told her she could lead us around and we would look. So she did just that. We walked down the path, and all the while, she never pointed out another tree. After a nice little walk we asked her if the one we had originally seen would be ok. She stated with a smile on her face "yes". 

We headed back up front to cut down the "perfect" tree of 2010. 

The process of the tree cutting is Shannon and Ainzli sprawled out under the tree with Lillie looking on. Then when the tree is ready to come down, Ainzli grabs it and guides it to the ground. I know one year, in the not so distant future, she will be the one with the saw cutting away.

After the "big chop", the girls went up to the barn and brought Eeyore back to drag the tree to the truck. Not too worry, they had help. 

Ainzli was leading him with Lillie mounted on his back. 

We then warm up by the pot belly stove, indulge in hot chocolate, and pick out our wreath for the front door.

Perfect..................