Christmas Tree Hunt!

The Madyun9 Christmas tree homecoming really has no tradition. So last year I decided our tradition was going to be cutting down our tree as a family. Well, due to not being able to find the tree in a timely manner last year, that did not happen. Sooo....this year the Madyun9 got up at 7am on Dec 6th in order to be one of the 1st families on the tree farm... The logic was activity would be far more enjoyable because we will be sure to get the best tree. After all, nobody else will be there..Plus we will be out of there in about 3omin-1hr tops and not have to endure a lot traffic and lines and cold and......... Yeahhhhh... RIGHT!

While we were the 2nd and 3rd cars on the lot (we drive 2 cars when we all travel together), we did not leave the farm til 3 1/2 hours later. I repeat, not 30 minutes...210 minutes....

We drove and drove and drove and drove around the tree farm. I guess we hoped that driving by the same set of trees a fourth time would make the trees look different....then we walked and walked and walked and walked figuring that our TREE was hidden somewhere among the trees, but it appeared that the Madyun tree was not going to be found easily. As the time ticked and family grew more and more tired and frozen...and watched the tree farm fill up with people who seemed to EASILY find and cut their tree and leave in 30 MIN!!!!, it started to appear as though we were going to end up in the parking lot of some random store waiting on some man to bring trees down a run way so that we could yay or nay to one.

I thought to myself, "What is this craziness?.... All the the trees that look good appear to be damaged because they were marked with these gloves on the top of them. I saw lots and lots of trees with gloves on them. Then I thought, how many gloves do people lose trying to buy a Christmas tree. I mean it's good that they are lost so the trees could be marked but what makes buying a Christmas tree so bad on glove retention. Through so random talk with a different family looking for trees, I found out that a glove on the tree meant that those trees have been spoken for by other families. Wait, we could've just brought a glove out there? I could've come out here by myself one day, put my glove there and then send Na'im and Marcus back out to cut the tree down?!?!....No wonder some of these families are cutting their tree down so fast. Knowing is half the battle. Well, by this time almost all the kids and Na'im had decided this tree hunting thing was not for them and they were heading back to the car to stay warm and wait for others of us to alert when this super special TREE HAS BEEN FOUND!!!

While tree hunting is not for the Madyun 9, I don't think. It was a time to remember.There was no fighting or screaming. You lose too much heat fighting and screaming. Ultimately, we did find our tree! Even though it was only about 2 inches taller than Marcus once it was decorated and in our living room and much smaller than last year, it was PERFECT!.

Micah is cold,but can not wait to find that tree... well, Micah gets cold quickly anyway...not enough meat on Teenie Meanie.

Morgan was full of smiles and could not wait to get out the car and start some true hunting.She also could not wait to get back in the car and do some true thawing.

I am not sure how Na'im and Aiden felt about this whole tree hunting thing.. I think Na'im just prays that I always know what I am doing..and trusts the ride (I think).

Aiden did not say this but I am sure he is trying to find a way out of this place.. "What are we doing here?".

Andersen and his Sister Morgan.. Happily hunting that tree.."We are going to find you tree".

Andersen and Morgan cold and ready to sit in the car....somebody else can find that tree.

Til Later, Mad Love!