Favorite Traditions

1983:  Cutting down trees in Idaho

 A wonderful, time-honored tradition...cutting down our Christmas tree.  I can't remember a year that we didn't go to Idaho for Thanksgiving and then cut down Christmas trees the next day.  I remember one year taking the whole crew...grandma & grandpa, Uncle Delray and Aunt Lois in the motor home, jumping off the motor home into the snow and coming inside to a hot bowl of mom's homemade chili.  We warmed our frozen hands by sitting by the heater vent. (and then got fresh "squeeky cheese" in Blackfoot at the dairy)

My family has carried on that tradition and we love it.  Cody and I have been together for almost 20 years and we have bought a tree from a lot once (and we will never do that again). We almost always cut one for a friend and for a family in need.  Cody is the best at picking the right tree and we have an amazing one every year.  We love the smell in our home and the look of a real tree.  Cody has taught Dylan how to pick the right tree and chop it down. We carry it to the car and cart it home, ready to help us celebrate the beautiful Christmas season.

Dylan cutting the tree down

This year, Thanksgiving was in Vernal with Cody's family so we went up to the Uinta mountains and got some great trees!

A handsome boy

I guess I should have at least gotten out of the car and taken some pictures.  Cody took these.  I was lazy this year, and sat in the car either crocheting or napping.  The last time I chopped down a tree Cody gave me a saw and put me to work.  Little did I know, I was using a keyhole saw (used to cut drywall and about as easy as cutting a tree down with a steak knife).  But I did it and Cody still can't believe I could cut a tree down using that saw (it was not easy)!  So, I decided to skip this one and leave the tree choppin' to the men!