Christmas Tree

Every year we always buy a real tree. Since I was a little girl one of my favorite Christmas memories was going to the tree lot to pick out the tree for the year. I love the whole event and I love how great they smell too. The only thing I don't like is how expensive they can be for one silly tree that you throw out several weeks later. This year we finally thought duh! we live in Colorado, why don't we just chop one down in the mountains?

Don't worry...it's even something that's encouraged! Cutting down the smaller trees actually prevents forest fires so for ten dollars you can buy a permit to chop down your very own Christmas tree. We left bright and early during a pretty awful snow storm so I was nervous and debated turning around to go home. Luckily we didn't because the snow had slowed down to a stop by the time we made it to Colorado Springs. When we got to the lot to buy our permit and see Smokey the Bear Johanna was not having it. Between changing her diaper in the truck, putting her snow pants and boots on and the cold weather on her face she was livid! This year we will not have proof Smokey the Bear wants us to prevent forest fires.

Speaking of boots, I just love her little kiddo purple pair!

This year we went to Woodland Park to cut down our tree. You got to drive around the mountain roads to chose your spot then most would hike around to find their perfect tree.

With me being preggo and little Johanna with us we didn't spend much time searching the area. There are a few different species to chose from Douglas-fir, Lodgepole pine, Ponderosa pine, Englemann spruce, and Limber pine...whatever any of those are. I figured each year we will search for a new type of tree to bring back!

It was cold, but Johanna loved looking around the forest pointing out all the trees.

 Look, the perfect sized tree for peanut!

After hiking around for a little while Johanna and I decided to head back to the car while Jeff scoped the area out. Finally, we settled on this one...our very own Charlie Brown Christmas tree. We didn't get a big full tree this year because trees in the mountains aren't the same type of tree you would find grown from a tree farm and the good trees usually take a little bit of a hike to get to. We had so much fun though that we can't to go back every year and search for the best tree!

Here is our little tree with tons of brown needles and bare patches :)

Next year we are going to bring a sled for Johanna and JJ so we can pull them around while we search for our tree! Even though it was cold and snowy at times we had such a great time! Jeff loved being outside in the mountains and is looking forward to taking the kids out as they get older and I loved being able to listen to Christmas music in the car for the entire day ;)