12/11/05 –
We cut our Christmas tree today. It is a minor expedition that is filled with family traditions – large and small. They include letting the dog(s) ride in the back seat, intense negotiations over which tree to choose, the actual cutting by the children, and locking mom out of the car for a short time on the return trip.

Clare, Carl and Homer are packed into the backseat of the pickup on the way to go tree hunting. Our other retriever, Sunnie, is too old to jump into the truck, so she guarded the kitchen rug while we were gone.

Clare and Carl fell the mighty spruce.

The finished product fills the living room with holiday cheer.