Christmas Tree Adventure!

 disclaimer: i am very opinionated. ESPECIALLY about Christmas trees. So like it, or hate it, or don't read it. But be warned.

Getting a Christmas Tree, A REAL Christmas tree, is VERY important to me, and is probably my favorite thing about Christmas!

BUT

it has to be an adventure. It HAS to require an hour or more of driving , because the ride is half the fun. Then, we CAN'T get the first or even the second tree we see. We have to search for the perfect tree, or wait til our bodies are numb and frozen before we consider giving up and settling for something less than the best tree on the mountain. I am glad I married a man who shares these same beliefs. SO very glad. But even if I didn't, I 'd make my Dad come down here and find us a tree, because i WILL NOT get a fake one. I MIGHT get one from a tree farm, but only if i can get it flocked. a tree farm is a step up from getting a totally fake one.

So.....we braced the freezing cold and post-blizzard temperatures of Cedar Mountain. One of the prettiest places on Earth, I tell ya. ANY season. At one point, (the point BEFORE we found our perfect Christmas tree. The point BEFORE we knew how deep and serious the snow actually was) we ALL , yes even me with my camera dangling from my neck, immersed ourselves into waist deep snow, and attempted walking in it for about 10 feet until we decided this probably wasn't going to work out.

So then, about ready to give up, because the whole mountain was covered in this deep crazy snow, and EVERY road turning off the main one was blocked with high walls of snow, we started driving back. BUT THEN we found a road that was cleared because it was a road leading to the rangers station. We turned down that, and got out and looked around. Might I add that it was FREEZING. the skies were crisp and clear, everything was still and peaceful. it was beautiful, and even with numb fingers, i tried to capture it.

Jax had a blast! He doesn't get cold. like , for real.

Andrew being the tough guy he is , and i mean TOUGH, had to plow through 20 feet of thigh deep snow to check if the tree we saw could be the ONE. luckily , it was. Luckily, it was absolutely perfect. Luckily, i got to stand on the road and watch andrew do all of this.

Meanwhile...jax and i were doing this....

i hope this inspired you to be part of the 2% that goes and cuts down a real christmas tree!!!

SERIOUSLY, DO IT!!

its the BEST.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

thankful.

This world is a scary place. So many sad things are happening to people i know lately.

i realize how fragile life is. We all take it for granted. Just to be here, alive and well, is a blessing.

some people go through so much. And they are usually the ones that don't complain. They're too busy surviving to complain. I want to never complain again.

I wish i could help everyone. there are so many in need.

i hope during this holiday, you as well as ME , can remember what's most important. I hope all our hearts can soften. that we can put down hard feelings, prejudices, judgements, and just LOVE. and help. and be there for eachother.

I am grateful for my life.
I am grateful for my family.

Heaven.

words cannot express the love i feel for 

FALL,

the color yellow,

and this stinky boy's participation in making my vision for perfect fall pictures come true.

yes , while you're getting snow,

THIS is what's falling on our grounds.

 

Jubilee of Trees.

We look forward to this every year. St George does a Jubilee of trees where trees are decorated into different cool awesome themes, and then auctioned off, and i wanna say the money goes toward charity, or at least it should because some of these , well ALL of these trees are RIDICULOUSLY fancy. But they are fun to look at! Also, Santa is there! Jax liked santa this year, he didn't cry at all, he was just very shy. I made sure to have Santa tell him how important peeing and pooping in the potty is.

this year wasn't my favorite, there have been cooler years by far, but

here are some trees we thought were cool this year..

OUR family pictures!!

YAY! I'm SOOOOO happy about these pictures!!! Juanita did an awesome job! I CAN'T decide what to print......

which ones do you like????