It’s funny because sometimes as early as June or July, I find myself in a day dream about the following Christmas and the time that we go discover and pick out our Christmas Tree. There’s always “Christmas in July” that people do for whatever reason, but that’s not why my day dream of the event occurs. I just love going to get our tree and it is one of my favorite Christmas-time activities that I can count on one hand.

Why do I love this so much? Well, it’s just everything that goes along with it – the whole package! Here, let me show you…

The nursery that we go to is called Harding’s Nursery. They always have inflatables and big wooden cut-outs depicting holiday scenes (please note a stray Wise Man off to the left!).

They often go above and beyond in showing what they can do with some greenery. Check out the size of that wreath! And that is a pewter Elk peeking through it. The elk is for sale, but we just don’t have to room for it.

Here is another wooden cut-out that greets the kids inside the “tree-forest.”

Could this be the one?

Eli thinks this Santa is pretty special!

It was entirely so cold on Saturday morning when we went on our tree trip. But, honestly, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. The colder the better. That makes it feel authentic to me.

Besides, new this year, was this fire pit that we could run up to in between negotiations. Yes, there were negotiations this year. There were two trees that we were stuck on. Ok, one that Logan wanted and one that the rest of us wanted. It just isn’t in Christmas spirit to fight over what tree to pick! It took a while but we all finally agreed on one, and to my knowledge, no feelings were hurt in the process!

One of my other favorite things about this place is the warming house, where inside you can pick out a free ornament and help yourself to free yummy treats and hot cider.

After our tummies are full and our hands warmed up, Chris drives the car into the driveway and the nice helpers tie the tree to the top!

This seemed like a bigger tree than we were used to this year, but I’m not sure. Chris was huffing a little more it seemed – but that’s not an easy task!

Ok! Almost all the way in!

Phew! Good job, babe! You did it! (Ha! A lot of help I was – too busy documenting …)

With the more tedious part of stringing the lights out of the way, it’s time to get to the good stuff-the ornaments!

But, first, Eli got the honors of turning on the lights for the first time!

(Please  note, I am kicking myself for not taking ANY photos of the hanging of the ornaments! I must have been so in the moment that I forgot! But that’s probably a good thing, I think! I’d much rather be in the moment than out of it!).

Ooooh!

Ahhh!

Here’s a look at the new ornament, though! So pretty! I just love taking pictures of ornaments. So I missed documenting the hanging of them, but don’t be surprised if there’s an entire post devoted to my favorite ornaments! I’m just saying…

I so love this time with my family. Especially that night after the tree goes up and we turn out all the lights, get cozy on the couch with our Christmas blankets, and enjoy the glowing before us. We pick out our favorite ornaments, read Christmas stories and just talk.  It could quite possibly be my favorite thing all year!

The End.