Old and New Traditions

We used to visit a tree farm every year to select a Christmas tree. Then we moved into town... and went fake.

This year we decided to keep the artificial tree in its box and make a repeat appearance at the tree farm. The girls were excited.

We originally planned to visit the Hovde Tree farm on the day after Thanksgiving, but the weather was cruddy and we were all comfortably warm at home, decorating for Christmas. We agreed to wait until Sunday, after Thanksgiving at Grandma & Grandpa Rolfs' house.

It was a good choice as the weather on Sunday was much more suitable.

The Tree farm was rather muddy... so we put on our boots and wandered up into the woods to argue about which tree we should select. Everyone has a different opinion as to which tree we should select.




This processes was highlighted by the same conversation that I'm sure all families have at the tree farm. In fact, I think I saw a brochure with the conversation printed inside of it for those making their first-time visit to the tree farm. Let me recreate it here for those of you artificial-tree-huggers:

Girl 1: I like this tree!
Girl 2: Oh! Look at this one! It's perfect!
Grown up 1: We just got here. Let's keep looking to make sure we get the right tree.
Girl 1: Whoa! This one over here is just right!
Girl 2: Hey! Look at this one!
Girl 1: I want a baby tree for my room!
Girl 2: How about this one? It's huge!
Grown up 2: That one is already sold.
Girl 1: Let's get this one!
Grown up 1: That one isn't for sale.
***Repeat conversation for 15 minutes or until someone falls in the mud***
Girl 1: Let's just go home and use the fake tree.
Girl 2: Yeah! We just want to go home and use the fake tree.
Grownup 1: Great! Let's go!
Grownup 2: Fine. The first tree we saw was the best. Let's go get it. Where was it at?

At the Hovde Tree farm there are a couple of tall stumps that look like little houses. Great for family pictures. Plus, you can do this every year and see how much the kids grow. Unless you start using a fake tree for 5 years in which case it kind of screws that tradition up.




While we may have messed up that tradition, there is a new tradition afoot: taking a picture of daddy's growing bald spot and receding hairline while he cuts down the tree.



The kids enjoyed "free" hot chocolate and cookies while daddy paid for the tree and we then headed home for the annual Christmas Tree Decorating Event. It's always fun, at least for a while.


Viola!


Happy Holidays!