Our Tree

I can't remember where we bought our tree last year or if anything strange happened on that trip (it wasn't blogged so therefore it was forgotten) but our first Christmas in the house we trekked out to the hills to a u-cut tree farm. We walked around for well over an hour criticizing each tree we found, too tall, too skinny, too many wholes, etc. After it had turned dark and we still had no tree we gave up and just picked one out that had already been cut and set aside. It wasn't what we wanted and we paid too much for it, but we had a tree. With the romantic notion of u-cut trees gone, we reassured ourselves that it would be a lot more enjoyable when we had a kid.

Now that this time has come I still have not talked myself into the believing that this would be fun and not torture. We both agreed that this was not the year to give it a try and instead drove 5 minutes down the road to a pre cut tree lot. Nolan loved the lot and wanted to touch every tree there.

We selected our tree, they cut the trunk, trimmed it up and tied it to our car. Everyone was happy, Pat didn't have to do any heavy lifting, I got a great tree within our budget and Nolan got his very first candy cane.

I don't know if my photographer, Jessica reads this blog but I just had to post this photo of my first Sunburst! Last year when we did our family/Nolan's 1 year portraits we kept trying to capture a sunburst on a cloudy December day. I love the effect it gives to a photo, almost dream like! It didn't work out for us that day but I was actually able to capture one of my own. If you look hard enough through the glare you can see the tree lot guy tying the tree to the car while Nolan supervises.

We brought it home and it was just the right size for us, and it smells so good! I'm trying to slowly decorate it so it's not too much temptation all at once for Nolan. We kept it up for one day as just the tree. That night I put up the lights and flowers on it and told Nolan that morning that trees are just for looking at, he's done a great job obeying that rule. If only Cortez was so rational!

He will play for a while and then stop and walk over to the tree and point (without touching) at it, ooohhhing the whole time. I think he's going to love this Christmas thing. And I think I might toss out my u-cut tree fantasies for a few years.