The Orr Family: Oh Christmas Tree!

We have tried to make it a tradition to go hunt for a Christmas tree and cut it down. The first year we tried this (Gracie's first Christmas) we set out to get forest service permits in the Plumas Nat'l Forest with my Mom, us, and both our dogs...lets just say that it didn't exactly work out. It started snowing, we couldn't read the forest service map, there were no trees anywhere except the ones I saw that Tim and my Mom kept reminding me were landscaped and on someone's property...my dream was getting dim...oh and Makai (my mom's dog) and Tim woke up the next day with ticks...
Last year Tim and I took both girls to Apple Hill to cut one down. We brought Lacie, they had hot chocolate, the day was pretty...it was looking good until we had to walk up steep hills to get to the trees and Gracie started to whine and whine that she was tired...Charlotte was due for a bottle and Lacie went poop. I looked at Tim, saw the closest tree and called it good. He cut down the tree and carried it and the bag of poop down the hill while I carried Charlotte in the front pack, Gracie on my back, and held the dog's leash. Not exactly the memory I had hoped for.
This year didn't have big shoes to fill and it wouldn't take much to make it better than previous years. Tim and I started researching Christmas tree farms in the area. Since we are new to Oregon we had no idea what we were doing and with Oregon being THE place for Christmas trees there were a lot to choose from. Then one night Tim was on Groupon and saw a deal for a tree. I looked up the place and it looked great...so we bought the deal. Today was an unofficial opening day and after we were done with the parade downtown we headed to the country for our tree. We drove and drove and came over a hill to the most beautiful place for a tree farm. We were greeted by Lisa, the owner of Mitchell Christmas Tree Farm...she owns it with her husband and their three little boys. There was a warming room with a wood burning stove, hot chocolate, coffee, candy canes, and treats (all free)...there was a campfire with stumps and chairs for sitting. There was a decorated Christmas tree and picnic tables with Christmas centerpieces...and there were acres and acres of gorgeous Christmas trees. We found our tree, the girls played and had snacks, and we just had the most wonderful time. Gracie asked me as we left, "Do we get to go back to that place?" She was bummed when I told her we would be back but it wouldn't be until next year.
This year was better...as in a picture perfect day brimming with blessings, goodness, and joy.