Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

We toyed with the idea of driving to Colorado to pick out a Christmas tree again this year, but we ultimately decided that while fun, that might not be the best use of our time/gas money.  So I started researching into tree permits a little closer to home.  I had heard of so many that are sold out so quickly from various locations in Utah.  But one place always seems to have plenty, no matter where I looked or who I talked to: Evanston.  My first thought when I think of Evanston as a spot to get a tree permit is, "what trees?"  But it turns out you actually go into the forest along the Mirror Lake Highway, which is full of beautiful trees.  And Evanston is a lot closer than Edwards.  Sold!

Gregg took Friday the 1st off work and we loaded up the car with all the essentials for tree hunting: ropes, sled, snow gear.  Notice something missing from that list?  Yeah, a saw.  Oops.  Luckily we realized it was missing just as we were buying our permit at the Last Chance Sinclair station on highway 150.  So we turned around and made a quick stop at Walmart, where we also purchased some new Christmas lights for the tree since last year's all our others went kaput.  Then we headed back down the Mirror Lake Highway, where we turned off onto a little forest road for a few miles.  We found the perfect spot where we could park the car and wander around a few hundred feet radius around the car, looking at all the perfect little green Christmas trees.  The pamphlet said that most of the trees in the area were lodgepole pines, but we were able to find some lovely firs that were just right.

We tied our pick to the top of the car and made our journey back home, where we brought it inside (to Sam's complete surprise - "Tree in house?!"), lit it with our new lights, and covered it in memories and decorations.  I'm sure I say it every year, but this one is my favorite tree of any that we've ever had.

It was a glorious bluebird day, with just enough snow on the ground
to make our boots and sled useful.

I spy Gregg in there with a saw.

She's a snow angel extraordinaire.

This is his first Christmas tree in memory, so
it was fun to watch him figure out what was going
on.

Cal was a pro decorator (and re-decorator, all
month long).

Checkin' out the holiday specs that make the lights
look like gingerbread men or candy canes.

Christmas tree magic achieved.