O Christmas Tree

Once again, we found ourselves wandering up Miller Creek in the National Forest in search of this year's honored Christmas Tree!!!
Every year is an adventure of some kind... to the point that the tree hunt is one of my most anticipated traditions. This year did not disappoint - I convinced Mojo & Dado to bundle up and accompany us into the newly fallen snow and the boys convinced Dado to pull them on sleds behind the truck. It was honestly the most fun they've had in a long time - they laughed and played and rode for miles until their faces were red and their hands were frozen!

This year's tree is particularly special to me because it was truly a labor of love for Hamp & Sam:

Sam spotted it way up the side of a mountain and proceeded to scamper up to check it out.

Then Hamp took charge and followed up with the saw.

They cut it down together... then Hamp drug it carefully down the mountain and to the road where he loaded it in the truck all by himself.

I simply sat back and enjoyed watching them manage the whole event! It was awesome.

We'll wrap up this last week of school and head to Mississippi for a Hightower Christmas!
Happy Holidays to all...