Time to get a Christmas tree!

I love going into the mountains to cut down a tree for Christmas.  We usually go out to the Kaibab by Jacob Lake, AZ.  Dinner at the Jacob Lake Inn usually follows and it's delicious! Riding in the car is the hardest part.

It was unseasonably warm this year, around 50 degrees and sunshiney with little to no snow on the ground.  

We've had years with snow up to waist but this year's tree was easy to find and drag out.

We usually get a white fir but Merril has always wanted a blue spruce.  Blue spruce it is.

At some point, the tradition of bringing hot chocolate and soft ginger spice cookies found it's way into our family.

Even though it was a little early for tree cutting, certain scheduling conflicts made the Wednesday before Thanksgiving the day to go.  Don't worry, I most certainly will NOT put up that tree before turkey day.  I feel like it's important to be grateful first.