The Tree –

This year I wanted to share a fond childhood memory with my family – cutting our own Christmas tree. To some this seems like only work; but to others it's about the experience of going to the Christmas tree farm and choosing the perfect tree.

I scoured the internet to find a Christmas tree farm in the Atlanta area. Okay, so I didn't have to scour...Google worked just fine. Anyway, we found Thompson's Christmas Tree Farm in Lawrenceville and off we went.


Most of what Thompson's had were Cypress trees. Cypress trees are a little flimsy for hanging ornaments on and we were looking for something a little more sturdy. They did have Fraser firs, but they had to be shipped in from North Carolina because that type of evergreen doesn't grow well this far south. Who would have thought I could have learned so much looking for a Christmas tree?


We found a beautiful Fraser fir and Brian started sawing. Woops, those were already pre-cut (you know, because they were shipped from North Carolina)...so no sawing necessary. It was the experience we were after, mind you.


Mason got to visit with Santa at the tree farm as well. He ran up and gave him a squeeze like they were old friends.


"Have you been a good boy this year?" "I'd like Bolt, in 3D, please," Mason said, totally avoiding the good boy question.


Cheesy 5-year old grin for the camera. Yay!


I am guessing the experience of Thompson's wouldn't be complete without a hay ride behind the 1952 Ford tractor in 30º weather.


Nothing like relaxing on itchy hay bales.


I took this photo with the camera at arm's length...and Mason was warning me not to drop the camera.


We got our beautiful Fraser fir home and Brian trimmed it up so that we wouldn't have to cut a hole in the ceiling. I had made paper origami stars to decorate the tree with, but Mason seemed to prefer the more traditional ornaments...


...so I hung the stars myself.


Mason stood on the arm of the couch so he could reach higher. I have visions of him falling into the tree and being stuck in the needles. EEK!


Of course, we had to put our K-State ornament front and center. Go Wildcats!


A closeup of one of the many paper stars that Mason and I made.

...and the final product! Merry Christmas!!!