The Tree: A Day in Pictures

We had actually planned to get a tree the previous day, and had packed our gear as well as some cookies and hot chocolate and headed to our usual tree cutting location. The kids were all bubbling over with excitement because this year we planned to get 4 trees: one for the living room, one each for Shayna and Riley, and one for Owen & Evan to share. We were almost to the spot in the road where you could start to see evergreens, and the snow on the road was terribly deep and drifted in spots. Zack looked at me and said, "We're so close, What do you think?" I left it up to him, and he tried to get us through but all we got was good and stuck. We tried for an hour to dig ourselves out, with no luck. We watched as half a dozen folks on snow machines passed us without offering assistance. Finally 3 young men stopped and helped. You could tell they didn't really want to, but I suppose they knew it was the right thing to do. They all had picks and shovels with them, and another hour later we were headed home with headaches and cold, wet bodies and without a tree. It was a disappointing day. I wish I had taken some photos, but I was a little too preoccupied with our predicament.

So on Sunday, we tried again, this time on Rabbit Ears pass, where the snow is much deeper. As we were approaching the trailhead, a lady hopped out of her car and asked me if I had a camera. I looked at her in confusion, wondering what she might want me to take a picture of. She explained that she wanted to take a picture of us. She said we were just too cute with our sled and snowshoes and all those children. We rarely have an opportunity to get a photo of all 7 of us, so I gladly accepted her sweet offer. As she returned the camera to me, she asked, "This isn't all one family, is it?" I answered, "Yes, as a matter of fact it is". She gave me a look of either bewilderment or admiration. I couldn't tell exactly which.

When we had reached a point in the trail where we saw some suitable trees, Zack left me with Quinn while he and the others went to scout out the situation. Quinn refused to stay on the sled, and he also refused to stay on the packed trail, veering off into several feet of snow over and over again. This resulted in a cold, wet cranky toddler in a very short time. This photo was taken when we first got there, and he still thought it was all pretty exciting... before the cold, wet crankies set in.

Owen didn't have snowshoes, because in the stress and confusion of the previous day's failed tree cutting expedition, his were left behind. He stayed back near the trail with us, and occupied himself with building a snow fort.

Evan picked out a tree to share with Owen and hauled it back to the trail all by himself.

And... he made it almost all the way back before crashing. Pulling a tree bigger than him with giant metal shoes strapped to his snow boots is not as easy as it looks.

After finding herself a tree, Shayna was put to work pulling Quinn up and down the trail. This was done in an effort to keep him from face planting in the snow over and over again. If you look closely, you can see that he is already beginning to lose it.

He cried NONSTOP for about 45 minutes. I knew that his gloves were wet, and his hands were freezing, so tried to put my gloves on him. He screamed and threw them back at me. There was no consoling him. As soon as we had all the trees cut, we began the trek back to the car. It was much slower going with four trees and a screaming toddler. The photo below is Quinn after warming up in the car for 10 minutes or so. Still crying.

Evan and Owen had a ball decorating their tree all by themselves, and they were so proud of the finished product. They did have to take a break from decorating every now and then to scream at each other, but that's life sharing a room (and a Christmas tree) with a brother.

Riley putting on one of his favorite ornaments... a snowman made out of fishing bobbers. I know, but it really is cuter than it sounds.

Shayna was a big help. I was a little under the weather, and it took all my energy just to get some photos taken. She put all the bows on for me, as well as a large portion of the ornaments. Teenagers aren't all bad.

The finished product... ignore the bare spot on the left side. We have never had to drag a tree that far, and apparently the dragging sort of rips off the branches. Next time we'll drag it on a tarp or sled to preserve the branches.

It's a genuine Christmas miracle! All five children looking at the camera and smiling at the same time! It was a long couple of days trying to get that tree, but now that it's up all the yucky parts (like digging tires out of snow, a screaming toddler and dragging four trees and five children for half a mile) seem a little less yucky.