O Christmas Tree

We decided to go green this year
and save an artificial tree.
We ventured to the mountains and the snow
in search of
the
Christmas Tree.

It didn't go quite as E and I pictured it.
To our memory,
this was the first time we've ever gotten a real Christmas tree.
And honestly
I think that we both thought
we could just drive out to the forest,
park alongside a flat road,
walk 30 feet to a grove of Christmas trees,
arranged somewhat like a pumpkin patch,
then frolic among the trees,
comparing our options,
and choose the one that called to us.
It doesn't exactly work like that.
It went more like
winding slippery snow covered roads
a hike up a trail
Eric and one of the other guys
left us girls and kids behind
and went off the path to try to find
a tree--
any tree--
that could be Christmas-esque.
We waited
a long time.

Granted,

we had some of the most

lovely, breath-taking surroundings.

And it was pretty impressive

the way Kacin's tongue could lap up the snow.

We did a little sledding down the road.

Eventually,

My manly man E

chopped down a tree

and carried it down the mountainside

back to us.

Adorned with ornaments and lights,
it is the most Christmasy tree
we could ever want.