TREE, finally!

Up on the ranch, looking for trees and turkeys.
They found a tree! I was told over the phone it was a little over 10 feet tall. I believed them.

It took a bit getting it into the house and it needed several inches cut off. I think they removed about 15 to get it into the addition.

Later, Steve cut off another 30 inches (see measuring device-) to get it into the living room. The living room is 9 and one half feet tall.

The first tree is the 2011 tree. The second one is 2010. Notice, the 2011 tree still needs a tad trimmed from the top to fit the star atop? This year's tree was definitely full of character!

Before we decorated it, KiLa decided it was a wonderful place to play. After it was trimmed (so to speak), we managed to keep him from everything cept the water in the stand. I was also pleased to see the lego train being placed around the tree. It is neat to see how lego bricks and trains can bring people together, even if everyone is 'grown up' now! Jon took lots of other tree photos, but I cannot find them anywhere. Hence, the reason it has taken me so long to put this 'Tree' Blog up!!!

Oh, Christmas Tree!

As seen earlier by those on FB, this is the tree Steve and Jon found during elk season. I was told it was just a little taller than Steve. But, as many suggested, things always look smaller in the woods! Since we couldn't find our tree stand (we have not used it for 2 years) we left the tree in the addition for a while).

Jon's Scout troop is also doing Christmas trees. It is interesting how much trouble it can be to choose a tree. And it is just as much trouble to keep warm!!! It was COLD!

We finally found our tree stand and Steve went out to fit the tree in it. But, he discovered a problem. The bucket of water had frozen! He was going to pull the tree out and trim it up, but decided to just cut it where it was stuck. Water and 2 degree weather makes for some solid ice!

He ended up cutting quite a bit of it off. Mostly due to the part in the bucket, I think. However, he did chop off some from the top, too. Thankfully, it is still fairly tallish! And it looks GREAT! Now, we add the lights and wait for Tony to come home so we can decorate it!

Also with the tree came some long pine needles. Moses was extremely interested in this new organic toy. Jon thinks he looks like Hobbes getting ready to attack Calvin in the first photo and Cat Kong in the second!

10 days til Tony!!!!! And reading Christmas books.