Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Torture Disguised as Fun

As a child, my family never got our Christmas tree early.  Nope, we waited until on or after December 15th, my birthday.  I insisted upon it.  No Christmas festivities until my birthday got proper celebration.

I also had a lot of very disappointing birthdays, since the sheer anticipation made for a day that could never quite live up to my expectations.  I've tried to change, really I have, but that part of my personality still comes through sometimes.

Since Nick and I have been together, we choose to get our tree right after Thanksgiving.  We want to have it for as long as possible, especially since we never spend Christmas at home.

Last year we started our first Christmas traditions with Cora.  And instead of going to a nursery lot in town, we went out to a tree farm for our own little tree.  It was a blast.  Beautiful blue skies (not sometimes to take for granted this time of year around here), lovely trees, and a great family tradition was born.

Sunday, after coming back in town after thoroughly celebrating Thanksgiving, we bundled up and headed out to the same farm, happy that the sky was shining bright and we were going to have the kind of fun we had last year.

Cue the sad girl.  Of course.  The second we plopped her in the baby backpack she started to whine.  Soon we came back for the cuddly front pack that she loves.  Still more tears.





We spent most of the time cuddling her, singing to her and trying to make her laugh.  Successfully, for short periods.









Our trip was abridged.  No time for making ornaments or enjoying the hot chocolate or apple cider (which Cora spit out like it was poison, anyway).

But we still managed to find the perfect little tree: a small 6 foot noble to hide in the corner between the couches where Cora can't get to it, perched on a little table. 

So much for expectations....  We'll see how the rest of our festivities go.  Since we've got a few more days before December even arrives we have time for plenty more merriment.  Or tears.  Most likely a little of both.
 
 



The closest thing to a family Christmas photo. Tortured baby style. And the only pic that shows Cora's true feelings.

9 comments:

  1. Aww, poor thing. It's so hard when they are young. We don't have tree farms here but this year were going to the National Forest to cut down our tree. I really hope the kids enjoy it!

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  2. We took Anthony to see the Christmas tree in Pioneer Courthouse Square (in the pouring rain) and when he saw it he acted like we were taking him to a human sacrifice- terrified!

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  3. Pigtails!!!! We are trying to introduce traditions too. Lots if running or screaming involve but I think once kids ate older , they start to participate in the fun :)

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  4. Poor girl! At least she looked snazzy in her pigtails and pink coat. In that last picture, she has your eye color exactly -- so sweet!

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  5. I haven't even thought about a Christmas tree yet!! I loved the pictures on here, you have such a precious family Leah :)

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  6. Just wait a couple more years, and she will be SO excited. It will make up for any tears. My 4 and 6 year old love doing stuff like that.

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  7. Great photos!! You'd never know from the pictures that it wasn't a blissful family outing :) We haven't gotten our tree yet this year, but I love our annual trip to the tree farm. (Though it never goes exactly as I envision LOL so maybe that's part of the tradition ;)

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  8. Wait to you see our Christmas tree post - more evidence that Ben and Cora are soul mates:)

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