Christmas Tree Hunting

Each year on Black Friday we chose to bypass the crowds and head to the mountains in search of that "perfect" Christmas tree.  Of course the word "perfect" is sooooo relative.  Some of you may know that Ryan and I have adopted one of his family's traditions to trade off each year between a "pretty" tree and an "ugly" tree, a.k.a. the Charlie Brown tree.  On the "ugly" year (such as this year) the object is to find a tree that no one else would cut down because they would think it too ugly.  And it has to make us laugh.  We usually end up finding some pretty cool, ugly trees.

Here is Kolea just after I'd put her in her little warm baby snow suit sitting in the driver's seat before we headed out into the cold.  She had just woken up from a nap and I'd rapidly fed her.  She just looked at me like "what the crap have you done to me?"  Poor baby!  It was quite funny.

It was super windy and Ryan had worn his new bandana to keep the wind burn at a minimum.  Take a look at that grill!  He was really excited about it.  And you can't really tell, but Kolea is on his back. 
Here is my cute little family from the back.  It looks like we were bundled up for nothing- but it was freezing, windy, and it did begin snowing!  We had such an adventure, especially as Hunter and Gabriella navigated around the fallen trees.  They did a great job.
Here we are in front of the tree that we'd chosen.  Do you see how it kind of spirals up in the middle?  It's pretty cool.  Right after this picture was taken I got to cut it down with a tree saw (all by myself.)  Ryan couldn't do it because he had the backpack on.  It was quite the work-out.  I'm glad I hadn't gone to the gym that morning because that was all the exercise I needed.  I felt like such a burly-woman!   =)  
We came back to the trailer as our tree was being loaded up and found Kolea in a coma- not literally.  Kolea hated the backpack and cried herself to sleep!  But doesn't she look so serene now?  Hunter and Gabriella had a great time!
The finished product!  It's just over 8 feet tall- which isn't that tall for us.  Normally we bring home about 12 footers since we have the ceiling height for it.  We had a blast with the kids putting on the decorations.  This is the first year that Gabriella could help- and help she did.  She would put all the ornaments I gave her onto one branch until it sagged to nearly touching the floor!  She got a little offended when we tried to help her spread them out.  Oops!   
Here is Kolea on Thanksgiving.  I thought it was cute so I included it here.  This is the first time she's worn this huge bow- poor thing needs to grow some hair so that bow doesn't look so ridiculous!  =)
Also Thanksgiving day.  Gabriella was giving birth to this bear.  Nice huh?