This year we decided to stay home for Christmas after all the chaotic moving! That also left us the perfect opportunity to start our own traditions with the kids. The traditions began by our Christmas tree picking adventure! We got a 5$ permit and drove (like 15 min.) to the National Forrest and began looking for the perfect Christmas tree!
We had researchedwhich type 
we wanted and decided that we would get a 9 ft. tree since we live in a shelae? (couldn't find how to spell it! You know the cabin- like houses with a wall of windows and the wood beams all showing, etc!) Anyways- we set off and decided to make a picnic of the day. There was just a little snow in the mountains but it was very cold and I hadn't brought our snow stuff. Well we discovered that not only were we not going to get the perfect tree but we couldn't find ANY tree that was remotely close to the 9 ft. range, or if they were they weren't very full! So trees do not grow as pretty in the wild 
we wanted and decided that we would get a 9 ft. tree since we live in a shelae? (couldn't find how to spell it! You know the cabin- like houses with a wall of windows and the wood beams all showing, etc!) Anyways- we set off and decided to make a picnic of the day. There was just a little snow in the mountains but it was very cold and I hadn't brought our snow stuff. Well we discovered that not only were we not going to get the perfect tree but we couldn't find ANY tree that was remotely close to the 9 ft. range, or if they were they weren't very full! So trees do not grow as pretty in the wild apparently! Allie started throwing fits, and we about gave up when Zach spotted a beauty! He ended up having to drag it through a little river but it was beautiful and so full! When we got it home we discovered that it was actually more like 12 feet and not as full as non- wild ones, but we liked it and it was a fun day!
Allie was so much fun this Christmas! She didn't care what present she received! We went to some town events and made all sorts of crafts and projects as well as visited santa! She kept telling everyone "Happy Christmas" as they would walk by! Even after a night of events - when Christmas morning came she had forgotten! It was easier to keep her distracted until daddy was ready, however. When she did come out she was seen with her classic Allie dramatic expressions which make all the work worthwhile! She loved her gifts and so did Leah!
