Oh Xmas Tree
Tom came home from work 'early' tonight, which meant he arrived at 7, instead of after 8. Fortunately the kids were still awake (even though Miriam decided her nap would best be taken from 8:30-10:30 this morning. We both napped and were so much happier for it) so we headed down the hill to the Christmas tree lot on the corner. I would have preferred to go to a farm, now that our fake tree is gone and we are getting real ones.
One of my favorite parts of Christmas when I was a kid was going to the Christmas tree farm with my grandparents. We lived in Michigan so it was invariably cold, and usually snowy. It always felt like a long drive, though I don't know that it was actually that far away. We'd end up taking a hay ride out to find the perfect tree. I always wanted to hold the saw, and even thought Grandpa cut down the tree, I always got to slice a disk off from the stump. The lot smelled like pine and sawdust and snow.
After we got a tree (Blue Spruce, which I wish we could get out here - the branches were stiff enough to hold the heaviest ornaments), we'd head to the barn and drink hot cider, eat fresh, hot donuts (plain, the only time I liked plain donuts) and then we'd explore the toys. They had wooden toys - Jacob's Ladders, pop-guns, trains, doll beds... One year I fell in love with a porcelain doll, and was so excited when I got it for Christmas that year.
I'd like to give Tai and Miriam those memories, and maybe I will, next year. This year our decorating and Christmas preparations are squeezed in between Tom's travel schedule. He leaves this Saturday morning for Indonesia and the Philippines, and won't be back until the 22nd. (Why did I think it would be a good time for him to go on a two week vacation, just before Christmas and Miriam's birthday? I have no idea.) At first Tai wasn't into the whole idea - it's cold tonight, 47 or so, which is unlike San Francisco, and he wanted to just play around on the iPad. Miriam was tired and wanted to be carried the whole time, but once we got to the lot, Tai ran around, checking all of the trees to pick the very best one.
When we got home, I wanted a picture in front of the tree, to remember this moment. Tai wanted to do a serious one, and a silly one. I like the silly one best. It makes me smile, and again - give thanks. The whole house smells like pine, and I am content.