O Christmas Tree

Ever since we've been married we've had a REAL Christmas tree! We've gone to Albertsons, Home Depot, and King Soopers for a traditional, FULL tree. And one year, when Nolan was just 11 months, we went with Mark's family to chop down a Colorado tree- fresh, with a great smell, but definitely NOT FULL! We thought that the experience of climbing around in the mountains and chopping down the tree would be so fun for Nolan now that he is older. So we joined his fam and did it again this year!

Nolan was SO excited to put on his new puffy coat and snow boots and explore!

Before we started our trek we took some fun family pictures. And managed to get a great photo for Christmas card too! I just love our smiles in this one!

Heater rode on my back for the first portion of our adventure! He was a trooper...until he got hungry and tired and we forgot his paci! Then he cried and cried and cried! So I had to bring him back to the car for some milk and a nap in the back seat!

Nolan kept telling his Daddy that he was looking for "the perfect tree"! However this was his idea of "the perfect tree"! Very cute, but not quite "perfect" for our vaulted ceilings!

I LOVE this pic because MARK actually grabbed the camera and snapped it of the two of us! I always take the photos or tell Mark to take them so I loved that HE wanted to take a picture with me!

After A LOT of hiking, and conversations/arguments about what makes "the perfect tree", we found IT! I wanted it tall and with pinecones, Mark was more concerned about it's shape! The winner was a combination of all of those traits! However, much to my dismay, when we cut it and tipped it over all of the pinecones fell off! SADNESS! Here's Nolan doing some one handed sawing to help Daddy cut it down.

And after we cut it down Nolan decided that he was done. He plopped himself down, completely exhausted from about 2 hours of hiking, throwing pinecones & sticks, and climbing rocks and stumps! So Daddy carried him on his shoulders and we hiked down carrying the tree together. Nolan's face in the next picture says it all!

What an adventure!

We came back to the cars for a yummy lunch and some snuggles with this dude!

Mark strappin' the tree to the roof of the Pilot. I had to post this one because for some reason I just think he is so cute when he's doing manual labor! Girls, are you with me on this one...don't you love your guy doing work?!

Then we headed home to start decorating!

Nolan was a fantastic helper! He loved opening all of the Christmas bins and finding what treasures were inside!

Heath was so tired from a day of napping in the car and having no real meals at home. So he hung a few ornaments with us and then it was off for an early bed time! He's starting to copy a lot of words we ask him to say. We've been having fun listening to him try to say "Santa", "Tree", and "Lights". He has the sweetest whisper voice when he "talks"! So cute!

Nolan had fun checking out all the different ornaments and finding a place for them on the tree!

And here it is...the finished product...in all it's scraggly glory...

13 feet tall and about 5 feet wide at the bottom!

And even though it's not full, it's ours! We searched for it, hacked it down, hauled it out of the mountains, wound lights up and down each and every branch, and decorated it with love!

Merry Christmas!