Christmas Tree Farm Part 2

This morning the boys and I loaded up to head back to the tree farm for the annual family event. It was much nicer without the rain!

Blake missed his daddy not being there, but he is lucky to have so many wonderful uncles!

The hayride out to the trees (Blake's favorite part)

After searching for each family's perfect tree here is what they found...

Dad & Mom (they chose a fir this year so that the pine needles would be minimal in their newly remodeled house)

Estes Family (just posing because Cade is allergic and they can't get one)

Shannon and Josh , Bradley and Samantha

With the trees chosen, next came the cutting

Taking a minute to stop and snuggle.

After the trees were cut down, it was family picture time. Caleb held all of our gear while we posed.

The girls

The boys

The grandkids

We had someone take the family picture for us on Dad's camera. I will post that one when I get a copy. The boys and I posed one more time before we all headed to Dad & Mom's for lunch.

Compton

As we unwrapped the netting from our Christmas tree, a little elf fell out. We didn't know what he was or where he had come from. Thankfully he had a letter explaining to us what he was doing here. The letter said that Santa had sent him to spend Christmas with a little friend. He chose Blake to be his little friend. He is here to make mischief and fun. He had instructions on what to feed him and we have to sprinkle special snowflakes on him each night during his stay. When Santa comes on Christmas Eve he will take our elf back with him to the North Pole...until next year when he comes to visit again. Our little elf came with the name Compton.

We fed Compton his cracker and water last night. We tucked him into his sleeping bag and sprinkled the special snowflakes on him. Little did we know what that would mean.

When Blake woke up this morning we could not find Compton anywhere. His sleeping bag was empty, his water glass empty, and his cracker gone!

We went to the kitchen to get our breakfast and look what we found!

Compton had made chocolate chip cookies for Blake while we were all sleeping! We could not believe what a special elf we had!

Blake got to enjoy cookies and milk with his breakfast this morning thanks to Compton!

I wonder what tonight will bring with our mischievous little elf!

http://elf-magic.com/

Christmas Tree 2008

This is the first year that Robert will be at work on our annual tree farm trip. He, Blake, Barrett, and I (along with our personal photographers Dad & Mom) went today to cut our tree down. Tomorrow the boys and I will get up and go again for the annual trip. After the rain let up this morning we headed to the tree farm.

Blake thought the little bunnies in the petting zoo were so cute.

Barrett was in the backpack ready for his first experience with walking through tons of trees to find the perfect tree. It was just about this point when the clouds opened and the rain started pouring! We never made it out to the trees. Instead we stood under an awning at the front. As we were standing watching the rain come down, we saw the tent that has the pre-cut fir trees. At this point we had never seen a more perfect tree! It was already cut, under shelter, and at the front of the property. As the rain continued to pour down around us the tree looked more and more enticing.

McIntire Family 2008

Our first year not to cut down our tree, our first fir tree, Barrett's first Christmas tree, and our first year not to caravan out with the family. Lots of firsts this year!

The tractor gives you a ride out to the tree farm, drops you off to walk around and pick out your tree, and then comes back to pick you up. But since we didn't even get to make it this far, that meant no hayride. Blake was very disappointed. Luckily just as we were about to leave the rain let up and they were able to go on a ride. Just as they were pulling back up, the clouds opened again and down came the rain. We loaded our tree and ourselves in the rain and headed home.

After an afternoon of letting the tree dry out in garage we were able to bring it inside and set it up. We had to get creative this year as to where we put the tree. Barrett is very curious and we knew he would love to get his little hands on it. So we had to find a new place for the tree this year.

This is what we came up with. This is what it looks like when Barrett is sleeping...

And this is what it looks like when Barrett is awake...

Robert and Blake put the lights on the house while Barrett and I decorated the tree. We are officially in the Christmas spirit!

Flashback

It is tradition in my family to go to a Christmas tree farm the weekend after Thanksgiving to cut down our tree. We started out a family of six cutting down one tree, and have grown into a family of 14 cutting down 5 trees. Well, actually minus one tree because Cade is allergic, so they go with us and pretend, but put up their fake tree at home :) In the many, many years we have gone, the weather has always been different. Sometimes it is cold, sometimes hot, sometimes wet, sometimes cold and wet etc... This is the first year that Robert will be at work on our annual tree farm trip. He, Blake, Barrett, and I (along with our personal photographers Dad & Mom) went today to cut our tree down. Tomorrow the boys and I will get up and go again for the annual trip. As we were sitting at home this morning wondering if the rain would ever stop, I thought back to some of our past trips...

Our first (and biggest) Christmas tree 1999 (Our tree took up the whole living room in our little apartment!)

Second Christmas tree. We chose a smaller one that year.

We took our dog Montana with us this year. Our 3rd or 4th year??

Another trip with Montana. I can't find the picture in front of our tree though :(

Christmas 2004 (pregnant with Blake)

Blake's first Christmas 2005

2006 (Blake had to take his camo jacket off this year because it was so warm)

Christmas 2007 (pregnant with Barrett and freezing)

I can't find pictures from a couple of our trips. But these will give you an idea of years gone by. It is tradition for the boys in the family to match in camo and the girls to match. What I have on in every picture is also being worn by my 3 sisters and mom (even the headband mom bought us all. Funny she didn't buy herself one though!) I hope you enjoyed our Christmas tree farm flashback!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy 1st Thanksgiving Barrett!

Peek-a-Boo

Barrett and I played a fun game of Peek-a-Boo last night. His giggles are music to my ears.

Where is Barrett??

Peek-a-Boo!!

So fun!

A New View

Gone are the days of Barrett sitting in his bumbo in Blake's room watching him play. He officially found his way to Blake's room last week. The combination of Barrett and a room full of small cars and toys meant trouble. The boys and I had to make a trip to the store to buy our first baby gate.

Barrett's new view sitting in the hall looking into Blake's room.

Bolt

Blake went to his first movie Friday night! I had heard on the radio that Bolt was rated family friendly. I double checked it with Focus on the Family's review... both gave it a great review. So with daddy out of town, Blake and I headed to the movies (Barrett stayed with Aunt Mantha & Uncle Bradley). Blake was a little nervous at first when the lights went down and the loud big screen came on. It didn't take him long to get used to it and let out some laughs.

On our way back to pick up Barrett, Blake told me what a fun time he had at the movie theatre. I too had a fun time experiencing yet another first with one of my boys!

November Fun

Thursday evening we hosted our November playdate. Blake was so excited to have his friends over to his house this time. He is my little social guy!

After dinner the kids got to feast on yummy turkey cupcakes.

There was lots of playing!

We are thankful for our friends!