Oh, Christmas Tree

We have created a tradition in our family of getting our Christmas tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Even when Thanksgiving is extraordinarily early like it was this year (and those of you who know me know that I actually love this because it gives me an excuse to break the seal on all things Christmas that much earlier).

Every year for the past three years, I've considered driving to a nearby farm and cutting down our own tree. I envision cold temps, overcast skies that hint at snow, hot chocolate smeared smiles....and then before I know it, I've ordered coordinating outfits in buffalo plaid and incessantly stalk the weather/radar (photographer problems, and I'm working on it- I swear). Anyway, reality inevitably hits and not only do I remember that two of my three kids hate hot chocolate, but also that we live in Richmond, Virginia where 65 degree Decembers are sometimes a thing and we've occasionally worn short-sleeve shirts with light jackets (albeit begrudgingly) to get our tree. So we ended up going to this quaint little garden center near our house three years ago and we all loved it- everything from the fact that's it's family owned, to the mini Christmas canes they hand out to the kids. And that first whiff of Balsam and Frasier Firs...I look forward to it every year.

Magic is where you make it. <3