Missing Pieces Of 2017 - The Christmas Tree That Almost Wasn't

People always post all their picture perfect experiences finding the "perfect Christmas tree".

But, quite honestly, this year it turned into survival mode for us.

We finally found an evening between rehearsals and basketball games 

to head out to our favorite spot and get our tree...

only to find that it had relocated to an unmarked location.

Tree farms are at least an hours drive from us so that was out.

So we did what every smart American family does in this situation...

we drove around looking for another tree lot,

because, of course there are millions of tree lots.

Except when you are actually looking for one.

After about 10-15 minutes we found another one.

We all piled out of the car and headed into the lot.

Here is where I explain that our kids prefer actually playing tag 

between the rows and rows of fat christmas trees

over actually choosing the perfect tree.

So they begin running around, acting like maniacs,

zig-zagging in and out of trees

while Josh and I quickly discover that the trees are so overly priced

that we knew we wouldn't be getting out of there with a tree under $65 dollars, AT LEAST!

So we all pile back into the car.

After doing this another time or two we decided that our best bet would be for me to just hop out and scope the pricing of the trees before unloading the entire Colony.

Stopping their game of tag in mid-setup can become a bit emotional for all involved.

Bathroom breaks were becoming the regular.

The frustration was rising.

The kids were getting restless.

And the questions and demand for answers were becoming overwhelming.

FINALLY, we came to a lot that seemed reasonably priced so we let them all get out.

Of course the game of tag began instantaneously as Josh and I began frantically looking

for a tree we could afford with a size that would AT LEAST match our dining room table.

Not 5 minutes in and we were chasing after our kids picking up knocked over trees

and trying to console the Colony kid who decided that peeing in his pants was a better option than using the port-o-potty which was ON SITE.

*sigh*

After all of that Josh and I just grabbed the closest tree that seemed like it would fit in our home and called it a night, lol.

All-in-all it was an adventurous night and we rationalized the cost saying that we payed $24 extra for the experience.

Next year, though, I'm getting a $29 Food Lion tree and just throwing it in the field behind our house for the kids to "find" as our perfect tree.