Getting the Christmas Tree from the Forest

My children love axes.  They’ve been waiting to go to the forest to get the Christmas tree for quite some time, and really, no one had a bad attitude about the adventure at all this year.  It helped that it was a balmy 30 degrees outside with no wind.  They had fun deciding which trail to take to search for the tree, and we found some nice ones this year!  The trees are so economically priced that we usually get two, one for the living room and one for the family room.  Mr. SP cut the first tree down completely by himself using both axes and the saw.  He even pushed it over himself AND carried it all the way out of the forest on his own.  I am beginning to see the advantages of having a few sons around.

Not one to be left in the dust by any means, The Banana was also smitten with the axes, especially the one with a fancy stamped leather cover.  She worked with Dr. Peds to cut down the second tree, while YaYa built winter fairy houses on the forest floor nearby.  Mr. Trouble on Two Feet was nestled in his sled observing.  He was just starting to get a little cold and grouchy when we found the cookies.  Holding his own cookie and eating and eating made him a very happy small person.  At the entrance to the forest we ate cookies, drank cocoa, touched animal skins, learned about trees, and the kidlets and Dr. Peds slurped up some chili.  By then Mr. SP and The Banana declared the weather too warm for winter coats, so they zipped about in their shirts and snowpants.  Mr. SP was wearing a short sleeved shirt.  It had to be chilly, but he was very determined about not needing a coat.  Everyone else in the forest was bundled up cozily.

It always takes a long time to load two large trees on top of the van and secure them well enough to drive away, but every year my genius husband figures it out.