Christmas Tree Hunting

On Saturday we decided to go get our Christmas tree. We do this every year, and it's lots of fun. Permits are only $5, which is another perk. We loaded up the kids after naptime and headed up Hyalite Canyon. We were planning to go up Langhor Road, which I believe is an old logging road that goes off the main drag, up the hill, to nice areas of clear-cut where it's easy to find a tree. However, it looked like no one had been on that road this year - only skiiers. So instead we just parked on the side of the main road and decided to walk straight up this steep hill, since we could see a clearing at the top (easier to find trees in these sorts of areas). We didn't bring kid backpacks b/c we thought we were going to Langhor and wouldn't need them. Reder was a trooper and walked himself up the hill. We made Jason forge the way through the snow to make a trail for us shorter folk (including Cubby and Skippy). I had to carry Ruby and by golly was that a serious workout. We finally found a tree we were all happy with:

It's the tall skinny one coming out of Jason's head. We always try to choose a tree that is in a clump, so that in removing it we are giving the surrounding tree(s) a better chance to grow.

On the way down we tried a different strategy. Once we got to the steepest part of the hill we told Reder to slide down on his tummy. He happily did that!:

Ruby was a bit more apprehensive but my arms were mush so I made her:

We were all in need of a big drink of water when we got back to the car:

And here is Jason putting lights on the tree. I love our tree this year. It's tall, full, but it doesn't protrude out into the room. I'm not sure we've ever had one this shape before. Plus, it's not pokey to the fingers!