Christmas hunting

As usual this time of year, we went and hunted a Christmas tree up around Vail Pass. We took our saw into the woods, but were able to trim it with our early present back at the truck (thanks for the Husqvarna Mom and Dad). It's a Thompson family tradition to trim a tree with a chainsaw.

After toting the tree back to our apartment, Tyler helped me decorate the tree — which he hasn't been able to do in years past because of work. We draped the lights around the tree, and then busted into the ornaments.

He couldn't believe how many ornaments we had; and I couldn't believe how excited he was to hang all of them. My mother has sent us some of my old ornaments, as well as two new ones for us every year we've been together. I've also inherited all the old ornaments I loved hanging on my grandmothers' trees in years past. From the painted glass balls with Alaska wildlife scenes, to the glass and gold angels with bells, he was an enthusiastic tree trimmer. He even was happy to declare that we had so many different ornaments, that there wasn't room for the unoriginal plastic ones we bought at the dollar store in Tahoe six years ago.

We may not have the holidays off, and our apartment may be too small for Tyler's perfect tree — but I'm happy to say it's ours, and that I'm looking forward to celebrating this time with my husband whenever we have a chance with our sparse days off. Merry Christmas, hon.