personal: hunting for the perfect christmas tree

this past christmas season,

our little family took a day trip up to boone

in search of the perfect christmas tree to take back to our home.

this was our first time doing this since we've had kids,

and we've decided it's going to be an annual event.

it was such a sweet and fun day,

despite a tiny bout of carsickness,

and having to say "no sugar, we are not there yet"

more times than i care to remember.

here are a few things i learned from our trip

that may be helpful to anyone considering doing this next year...

1. if you aren't too particular about the size of your tree,

but your significant other is 100% in search of The Most Perfect Tree Ever,

it's best to just let him or her take the lead.

you know you'll love it either way,

and you know the first tree farm you come to will probably

most likely not have The Tree,

so just hang back, take a few pictures of your sweet family,

and savor this day.

2. if you want to photograph your kids

with the beautiful trees in the background,

you will probably want to just let them run down the rows of trees

because they really have no time to stand still for you

while you get your settings just right on your camera.

and when you finally are able to wrangle them to the Most Perfect Spot Ever,

you'll turn around to find your son relieving himself on 

what could have been The Tree,

so you say "ok, never mind, just go have fun."

and they do.

and you watch them, 

and end up getting exactly what you didn't know you wanted.

3. any tree farm that has live animals anywhere on the property

is a great tree farm.

it still probably won't have The Tree, 

but the kids will have a blast,

and you're pretty much guaranteed a front row seat

to a massive bowel movement.

4. tree farms that offer free hay rides are completely awesome.

there's nothing better than riding all bumpity-bump in the back,

listening to the driver talk about his property,

learning that you're riding on a road that was used over a hundred years ago,

and watching your best girl file this moment away in her mind.

she'll remember this day.

5. tree farms that have free hayrides

down roads that have been in use for over a century

will have The Most Perfect Tree Ever.

and it will be gloriously full,

just the right height and width,

and your very particular mate will be extremely satisfied with his or her choice.

you'll probably want to take a few more pictures

because you're also pretty particular about things (just not trees),

but it won't matter, because you've finally found 

The Tree.