O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree!

This year marks a sad milestone. Every year that I can remember, my family has gone out to get our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. And for 18 of my 25 years, we have gone to Sinnissippi Tree Farm in Oregon, Illinois.


This is our last year because it is closing down for good. I can't tell you how sad this makes me. So to commemorate the occasion, I have a photo essay of the day. This year we were lucky enough to have my brother's to be in-laws along for the ride.

We start of the day getting fresh, warm apple donuts and hot drinks.


While we enjoy them, we wait for our wagon ride around part of the farm. This year it turns out that our driver built the house where the Atchinsons (Calvin's in-laws) used to always vacation each year. His kids also have a new song out on country radio called "Mr. Officer". It's pretty good. You should check it out.

Here's Mom, Mike and I enjoying the ride and conversation.

Once we finish the ride we go to another part of the farm to pick out our trees. This place is huge.


Goodness, am I going to miss this. My Dad got tired every year of waiting for us to try to pick a tree. That's why he's uninvited and has a much better time hunting in Wisconsin. But can you blame us? There are thousands to choose from!

I think I have more than one of these pictures, because this is exactly what happens every year.

Trust me, he hasn't always looked this happy. But he's gotten stronger and more efficient with time. :)

And here's mom. She does a great job of holding the tree.


Mike would, but he's extremely allergic and bad things happen if he gets his head in the middle of one of these trees. So he just measures. (Of course we all know I take pictures).


And then my brother tries stunts like these.


That's right. He's trying to ride the wagon with the tree down the hill like a sled. I swear it's amazing that we've made it to this age with relatively little injury to ourselves.

Mike and I are trying to get more photo record of our existence during the early years of our marriage. It's a struggle for us.


But can you blame me? I mean seriously. This is the time of year when I get so pale it looks like I'm sick. And if you get close enough you start to see double chin action happening. I don't have a double chin. I promise.

Uh, oh! Calvin got away from us while we were attempting to be photogenic.

And there here is the hero of the day:

The tractor to pick up our tree! Seriously, it would be a long way for Cal to haul the tree to the front of the farm.

And once we get to the front, our tree goes through a little mom-approved treatment. First it gets all shaken up to get the loose needles out (trust me, Mom loves this).


And then it gets all wrapped up for easy transportation.

Here's my brother with his fiance.

Don't they take good pictures? I'm so jealous. I know, not a much better color on me than sickly pale, but there you have it.

And that was our day. We've had a lot of great memories, and it was great that our last time my mom could spend it with both of her kids and their spouses.

I'm not sure we could ask for a better ending.