The 7-hour Christmas Tree and the 25 minute Parade

Per family tradition, we headed west to the mountains to find our Christmas tree on the day after Thanksgiving. It was an 80 minute drive to our favorite tree finding spot in the central Cascades just east of White Pass. Our friends the Kannely family joined us again this year, which is always fun. We hiked about a half mile up a forest service road before striking out into the forest to find the perfect mountain Christmas tree.  It wasn't very cold or snowy this year, so our hike was quick and quite easy compared to scrambling through deep snow like we've done in the past. We didn't even bring our sled.

We are getting pretty good at finding cute sturdy Christmas trees, but while we were hiking through the forest I managed to trip on a fallen tree and fall hard on one knee, giving myself a long scrape on my shin, surrounded by a beautiful six inch bruise. Since it was not snowy, Jeff brought our van up the forest service road to the clearing so we didn't have to carry our tree for half a mile like usual. My bruised leg aside, it all felt too easy! When Jeff had the tree sufficiently lashed to the vehicle roof, I opted to walk back down the forest service road while he drove, so I could get a few more minutes of that pine fresh soul-cleansing mountain air. 

Back at home, we labored to get the tree cut to size and upright in our tree stand. Jeff had to add bits of wood around the trunk so that it was thick enough for our tree stand to grip. It took a while. Jeff was so tired from a poor night of sleep that he went to rest after the tree was in the stand, and the kids and I took over the lighting and decorating. Jeff usually puts the lights on the tree, and I am not all too fond of that particular job. But I forged onward and managed to fit 600 lights onto our slim mountain beauty, holding back the enthusiastic tide of kids with handfuls of ornaments the whole time. At last it was time for ornaments and the kids made quick work of decorating the tree. I had to keep removing the tackiest and heaviest ornaments to make space for the good ones, but eventually it was finished.

From the time we left home to go get our tree to the time it was fully decorated was close to seven hours! Even the most beloved traditions can be exhausting! Christmas magic, extended edition.

The following weekend, on Saturday December 4th, we walked through the Sunnyside Lighted Farm Implements Parade lineup before the parade began. This is our favorite way to see all of the floats and tractors with Christmas lights because we can do it in less than 30 minutes. I challenged the kids to see how many Santas they could count in the parade, and Amber had a blast searching them out and keeping careful tally. She ended up counting 19 Santas in the parade! It was an excellent 25 minute parade preview. Christmas magic, condensed version. 

Amber wanted to help carry the tree down the hill back to the clearing.

My phone timer on a tree stump picture (very cropped to straighten and zoom in).

My friend Danae took a much easier picture for us. We cut close to half of the tree off so it would fit inside our little house.

The men, lashing the trees to the minivans.

Enjoying my quiet walk down the forest service road.

So many cords! The branches are so slim that the light cords seem to stand out way more than I'd like. Thankfully when it's dark they mostly disappear.

King Louis and Marie Antoinette, my favorite ornaments, ended up positioned right underneath our Nauvoo Temple ornament and I am endlessly amused by it.

Cozy

The Sunnyside Lighted Farm Implements Parade: My photography was not on point that night. I focused on enjoying the lights and counting Santas with Amber instead, so most of the pictures are blurry and rushed.

I love how much we get to focus on LIGHT during this time of year-- the symbolism and power of light is everywhere.