Our Christmas Tree Tradition

Yay!  We made it to December!  We cut down a tree from the forest every year. This might be my favorite Christmas tradition.  It all started when we lived in Winter Park and wanted a little adventure.  The only year we didn't do it was 2006 because we were in Wisconsin and the closest national forest was too far.  Here is 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 Yes it's legal.  We buy a $5 permit at the ranger station!

Our 2005 tree in Winter Park.  I didn't bring many ornaments with me so I blew some eggs and painted them gold.  I also took test tubes and put white daisies in them (after this pic was taken)

Our 2006 tree in Eau Claire, WI (the cheater year) It was from a lot-gasp!  It was a Fraser Fir tree, to remind us of the town we lived in in Colorado.

 Our 2007 tree in Gold Bar, WA

 Our 2008 tree in a duplex in Spokane

 Our 2009 tree while we were housesitting in Spokane.  This is probably our most pathetic tree.  It's quite ironic because it's the nicest house we've been in!

Our 2010 tree with our little baby!  And her first baby tree

Our 2011 upstairs tree

Our 2011 downstairs tree

Luna's tree 2011

Sam and I have come to love our Charlie Brown trees.  They may not be the most perfect, but they have character and hold memories of hunting them down.  If you've seen Christmas Vacation you know how the tree always looks smaller in the forest.  This always happens to us every year.  I like it when they're too big because then we can make a wreath out of the extra trimmings.  The other nice thing about trees that aren't so full is that you can load them with ornaments.  You can tuck them deep in the tree and outside.  A downside is that they usually require many strands of lights to get them glowing good!  I hope you enjoyed my little trip down memory lane!