Cutting our Christmas Tree - Too Early??

We have been thinking about the holidays coming and the traditions and one of there is cutting our Christmas Tree.  We have done it for years but as our kids have gotten older it is harder and harder to find a time we can go.  Last year Bruce went by himself and got it, one year him and Twila went so when we had a Saturday coming up with NOTHING going on and a beautiful day we decided we would go get our tree and just not put it up for a while.  So here it is the weekend before Thanksgiving and we have our tree in the back yard.  In past years the tree is always really dead when we take it out so this year won't be any different.  The boys decided to put up a few Christmas lights today too with the nice weather and just wait to turn them on.  This year for school we didn't have a fall break so we get a week of at Thanksgiving so we have all of next week off - I am loving the big break!! But it is easier to have Christmas sneak up on us!  Here are some pictures from the day today.  It was a great day today!  Everybody was happy, it wasn't too cold, Dustin drove and didn't wreck us :), we found a tree pretty fast, and hiked to the bottom of this little draw and there was water running and it was beautiful!

 We took our lunch out to enjoy before we started looking for a tree.

 These 2 girls are something else!  SO CUTE!

 Bridget just wanted to stay in the truck and read her Twilight book.  When we went out walking trying to find a tree she came with us.

 The kids joking picked this tree!

 Got everybody out on this log over the stream for a picture.  They even sat down on it for me in the snow and got their bums all wet.

 And of course Dustin had to tease Kaylee about throwing her in the water.

 A wet bum picture!

 This is up stream from where we were!

 I sure love these kids!  So much fun!

 I even made my way out on the log for a picture.

 What a good brother!

 Me and he love of my life!

 Packing the tree out!

 Had to get a quick picture of the family before we took off.  Glad Tink decided to join us!

 Putting the tag on the tree! It's official!

There is something special about a Christmas Tree.  Today as we took a picture with it and the boys packed it up the hill it made me wonder what it is that is so special.  I decided it's because it will be in our home for a month and be part of our home.  I am thankful for our traditions and that we were able to go cut our Christmas Tree today!