Chrismas Tree Hunt

We have this tradition of getting a certain kind of tree for Christmas. We usually buy them out of one of the tree lots in Antioch. It's called a "Silvertip" or Red Fir and they are different than the usual Christmas trees because the branches are layered on the tree and you can see through to the white trunk all the way up the tree. Here's some of our previous trees:

This year we were going to cut our tree in Idaho with my family while we were there for Thanksgiving. It's only $5 for a 10 ft tree and $10 for taller if you cut it down yourself in the mountains! We were planning on leaving for home on Saturday after we cut one down but after loading everything up and starting our way to the mountains we decided that it was going to be to late getting home for us and the kids. So we said our goodbyes and started our way home without a tree. Sadie was so upset since she was dressed to hike in the mountains for a tree and the whole way home she was looking at the "Christmas tree potential" of every tree we passed. Once we got home we looked into places you can cut down your own tree here in California and we finally found this one that had Silvertip trees(and other varieties as well). It was at Tahoe. This place was so cute! Its defiantly going to be a new tradition to go here to get our trees. They had all these cute old buildings, one was a gift shop and they also had cookies, fudge and hot chocolate. They have this HUGE see-saw you can try out. It wasn't far off the donor pass but you drive one this one lane road into the forest along this spring. Once you get to the parking lot, they take you in the back of these old Jeeps into the middle of the tree farm to get your tree.

I have never been to a tree farm so I expected rows of trees and just going up and down the rows to find the tree you want. It was actually just a big forest that they continuously plant new trees in. The kids LOVED the hunt.

It was an adventure to wander throughout the trees and slide on fallen pine needles down small hillsIt was so warm we took off our hats and and gloves and sweaters. Here's Braden's hat head:

Jason cutting our tree:

It was actually a 30 ft tree we cut down to a 17 ft tree! They charge by the ft. but don't charge the amount you cut off the original cut. They take the trees back to the parking lot in the jeeps once you are done.

The tree did fine on the way home, they netted it up for us so it wouldn't be blowing all the needles off on the way home. Here's the finished product:

Its not at full as previous trees. Probably because we cut off the bottom half of the tree! The whole adventure of getting the tree is my favorite part anyway!