Friday after Thanksgiving the weather made us switch up some plans, and instead of waiting until Saturday to go to the mountains for Christmas trees for Carrie and Rose, we went Friday afternoon before bitterly cold weather and snow hit.
We got our 2025 family photo with Pikes Peak in the background!
To me the funnest part of Christmas tree hunting is the hunt,
the tramping through pine needles, twigs, snow, and cold air--together!
This year the choices were made easier because Carrie could make her own decision about her own Christmas tree--without anyone else second-guessing her.
Hers only had to please one person.
With Rose and Tom, it only had to please the two of them. The rest of us, including a couple of the Hagerty young people, just went along for the ride and to ooh and ahh over their choices.
Above, Carrie is pointing at a tree with her crooked finger--stowed and bruised at the volleyball game the day before!
Baby Ellie is not at all sure about things on her head.
Tom's and Rose's second year to get a Christmas tree from the mountains--and Ellie's first year!
So much joy!
Especially as we gathered for the family photo posted earlier.
Some of us wanted the photo in the middle of aspen we'd passed a couple miles back, but others suggested doing it right where we were, but in sight of Pikes Peak. That way we could just get it done right away instead of trying to decide on a spot in the aspen.
It is better to give in and have a beautiful family photo than to argue for an aspen background.
No one will be noticing the aspen or mountain as much as they will notice a family that loves each other--or not.
A family photo was the important thing. So we found our spot.
And then--oh, and then!!!!!
Our wondrous son-in-law Tom suggested that a big, tall tree near us would be a grand tree to climb for a literal "family tree"!
And before you could say "Jonathan Anna Crystal Sam Caitlyn Carrie Rose Tom Tim Danny Hannah and Ellie"--up the children had scrambled, Tim and Danny first, testing all the branches and twigs and making the way for Hannah, Rose, Tom, and Carrie to follow.
I am the kind of mom that sputters and gasps and has a conniption about safety and things like that--and then is terribly proud after it is all said and done and no one has gotten hurt, fallen out of the tree, or had their eye poked out with an unexpected branch!
So now it is Sam's turn, with Caitlyn joining on the other side of the tree.
Everyone is in order of age, youngest at the top, except for spouses who are simply across from each other.
Now Crystal joins, the oldest, and Jonathan and I find seats on the ground with little Ellie and her Christmas hat.
And the mom who gasped and held her breath and was afraid someone would fall and break a leg
is super proud of Tom's creative "family tree"!
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