For the first time in a very, very long time Tara & I decided to get a real tree for Christmas this year. The kids were really mixed on the idea of having a live tree, but after our trip to the tree farm they really enjoyed the experience. Who knows... this may be a new family tradition for us!

    When we arrived at the tree farm, we bundled up in our snow boots and snow pants (well, the kids did that part anyway). We picked out a cart to haul the tree on and a saw to cut it down, and began our trek into the woods to search for the perfect Christmas tree. After looking at what seemed like a hundred trees that just weren't quite right, we found the one that was calling out for us. Tyler wanted to try to cut it down, and he did a remarkable job of doing so. I provided a little bit of help, but he did most of the hard work. We managed to take a couple of family photos with our tree before it came down all the way. We loaded our tree onto the wagon and made our way back out of the woods. We had the tree placed into a bag before we loaded it into the truck and made the drive home. We put it into our tree stand and took a measurement - 9 1/2 feet tall, and about 6 feet around. Perfect for our living room! Unfortunately, not so perfect for our tree stand - it was still a little unstable, so we had to purchase a new one. Next year we can get two trees - one for the living room and one of the small $8.00 trees that were for sale at the front of the lot that the kids really wanted us to buy as well!

    I do have to apologize for some of these pictures. There was a spot on the camera lens that I didn't catch until after most of the pictures were taken. This was such a big occasion for us as a family that I wanted to include them anyway. Besides, they aren't that bad. Enjoy!

Our Christmas Tree Search
	Tara, Tyler, Samantha, Jayden, and Drew making their way down the trail during our search for the perfect Christmas tree.
	Another look at the family making their way down the trail.
	Jay, Drew, and Tyler playing in the snow.
	Rodney pulling Drew and Jay on the tree wagon.
	Tyler working on cutting down the tree that we selected.
	Sam watching Tyler cut down the tree.
	The kids posed for a picture before Tyler finished cutting down the tree. Here is Drew, Sam, Jay, and Tyler.
	Tyler working on cutting the tree some more.
	A very nice lady volunteered to take a family photo for us before the tree came down. Here is Rodney, Drew, Sam, Jay, Tyler, and Tara posing for a picture.
	Tyler making the final cuts on the tree.
	Tara taking a self portrait - always the prankster!
	Rodney got down to help Tyler saw through the tree as Jay looked on.
	Sam watching as the tree gets cut down.
	Tyler making the final few cuts.
	Drew and Jay waiting for the tree to come down.
	Rodney standing with the tree after Tyler made the final cut.
	Tyler posing with the stump of the tree.
	Drew pulled the tree out for a while, and Sam and Rod tried their best to keep it from falling off the wagon.
	Rodney took over for Drew pulling the tree out, but he and Jay kept him company on the walk.