“…..First we’ll make snow angels for two hours, then we’ll go ice skating, then we’ll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse cookie dough as fast as we can, and then we’ll snuggle!”
Ahhhh Elf. It’s December 8 and we haven’t yet watched Elf this holiday season. I like to strategically plan out my holiday movie watching so that I don’t go too hard too early and be left with the bottom of the barrel movies. Home Alone, A Christmas Story (Christmas Eve Favorite), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Christmas Vacation, It’s a Wonderful Life. My little pea-pickin’ holiday heart is swelling just as I type them out *insert starry eyes.*
But watching Christmas movies isn’t the only tradition I love during this season….as of 3 years ago (2014), going out and cutting down a real Christmas tree with my husband’s family is by far one of my favorite traditions!
When I was growing up, we never went and cut down a real tree. Real trees are gorgeous and have a pretty pine smell, but when it’s time to get rid of it, it can be a hassle. I’m usually like “ohhhh lets leave the tree up a little longer!” Because well, #procrastination.
But the process of getting a tree is so worth it 🙂 We have been lucky the past few years to find a day when everyone can make it. My mother-in-law does such a good job of setting it all up. She really loves doing stuff like this because she loves her family SO much. She loves having everyone around, happy. She brings a big thermos of hot chocolate and some kind of cookie. This year benson didn’t want to wait for his cocoa to cool down and we ended the day with tears from a burnt mouth. lol.
The hunt for the perfect tree is an art. Personally, I wish we had the room to fit an 8 foot tall tree. Home and holiday goals. You have to find a tree that has a good distribution of branches and needles. Minimal bare spots and good cone shape 🙂
This year I brought my camera for two reasons. 1) I do not use it enough. I LOVE photography and eventually want it to be more than a hobby, even if that means I’m just taking pictures for family and friends. 2) I have this thing with capturing moments. I knew the tree farm would provide the perfect backdrop for some cute family photos.
I’m rarely in these photos of family events because I’m always behind the lens, but I’m ok with that because I get to capture pictures like this:
My nephew Benson is currently my favorite person to photograph because the trick “You better not smile for aunt Nique, she won’t be happy if you smile,” still works on him and I always get a smile out of him. I think he just knows he’s so damn cute because he always holds the smile just long enough for me to snap a few 😊
I don’t see this tradition going anywhere in this family anytime soon and that is ok with me. Shoutout to my handsome husband for cutting down our tree!
Thanks for having us Vormittag Tree Farm! See you next year! 🌲
And thank you for reading, loves!
Tell me about your holiday traditions!
-Nique
