We were having a tough time getting everyone's schedules coordinated this year to go Christmas tree hunting, so it was beginning to look like just a few of us were going to be able to make it.
Everything kind of came together at the last minute though and we ended up with a 12 car caravan heading up past Butte Falls to get trees yesterday.
As soon as we hit snow, we always tie a couple of sleds to the back of the truck (Josh's Mom was sitting on the tailgate taking pictures).
Snow Angels.
Ross, Grandpa Tom & Dillon (Ross's best friend).
Hard to take pictures when you're trying to dodge snowballs.
That's Ross up in a tree (he climbed up there to shake snow on everyone who walked by).
If you look really close, you can see the snowball that Josh had just thrown at Ross, mid-air.
I laughed at that hat of Josh's all day.
When Courtney saw it, she said "Dad, are you wearing that as a joke?".
\
Annie pretty much looked like this all day.
And just hung out wherever there was a Grandma and/or crackers.
I love this one (Cole hiding with a snowball in hand, waiting for Ross).
And Ross getting even by shaking a tree branch full of snow on him.
Coley decided that Courtney was an easier target than Ross.
My Uncles (and one of my Uncle's weiner dogs that resembles an armadillo).
Not sure why I love this one so much, but I do.
In search of a Christmas tree (that's my Mom).
Grandma Jo, Grandpa Tom & Courtney.
Josh (and his ridiculous hat) scoping out the perfect Christmas tree.
Yes, that's the same guy who had the olive stuck up his nose at Thanksgiving.
One of the weiner dogs chasing Coley.
Josh taking seven kids sledding.
Three kids who fell off the sled.
And roasting marshmallows back at camp.
Shot just about everything in manual (it's hard to shoot in Aperture Priority mode in the snow because the snow reflects so much light that it throws off the light meter in your camera) with my 50mm lens.
And I went searching to see if I had posted about our Christmas tree hunting trips the last couple of years and found them:
Wow, this looks like a lot of fun.
Posted by: B | December 10, 2007 at 01:30 PM
Karen, I LOVE them all! Makes me want to meet you guys up in the snow just so you can take more great pictures! Love the one of you and Josh and the comment of the armadillo had me LOL! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Addie | December 10, 2007 at 01:41 PM
Great day :) Did you get a tree?:)
Posted by: Basia | December 10, 2007 at 01:49 PM
We used to do that when our kiddos were small, some great memories!
It is a dang good thing that Josh is a Hotie because that outfit is ummm.... well.... Just don't know what to say cause my mama said if ya can't say sumthin nice don't say nuthin at all!! lol
Posted by: Brooke - In Oregon | December 10, 2007 at 01:53 PM
Totally fantastic photos! What a wonderful way to spend a day! And Josh may have looked a bit goofy with that hat, but I bet he was warm! LOL!
Posted by: Michelle Gauthier | December 10, 2007 at 01:57 PM
Awesome photos! Great times! Thanks for continuing to share your family & stories with us!
~ Kathy C.
Posted by: Kathy C. | December 10, 2007 at 01:58 PM
All of the photos are great. Your photos always make me feel as though I was almost there (if that makes any sense). This post makes me remember why it is so important to keep up with traditions, take a zillion photos and try to coordinate it so everyone (even the teenagers and grown-ups) is included. These memories that keep the family close will never be forgotten and the photos will bring even more joy through the years when the kids are all grown and have families of their own. I always seemed to forget the camera when we went looking for a tree to cut down or to the pumpkin patch, etc... I really regret it now as the boys are grown and some of my memories are now becoming fuzzy. TFS!
Posted by: Susi (Dragonfly Dreamer) | December 10, 2007 at 02:05 PM
Ha Ha , Love the hat, Josh just looks like Daniel Boone. Great photo's
Posted by: Leonie -Australia | December 10, 2007 at 02:15 PM
I want to be in YOUR family! This looks like such a blast! What a fabulous tradition!
By the way, my class kit came a few days ago and is staring me down-if hubby doesn't hide it soon I am going to cave! I want to get the treat of opening it at Christmas! It is killing me!
Posted by: Tonia Borrosch | December 10, 2007 at 02:33 PM
wow! these are AMAZING!
i LOVE how you guys enjoy
life for all it's worth!!!
that's PRICELESS!
and what a cool tradition!
tara
Posted by: tara pollard pakosta | December 10, 2007 at 02:38 PM
Beautiful pictures and wonderful memories! Really cool that you all get to experience such beauty. Love all of the colors, even the tan that your uncle is sporting. GREAT PICTURES KAREN!
Can I ask you how you make black and whites? I always love how yours turn out.
Happy Holidays!
Posted by: Suzi | December 10, 2007 at 02:53 PM
Looks like you had a great time with your family, gotta love days and traditions like that, great memories..love how your colors turned out bright and crisp and the snow beautifully white (my snow pics turns out with a blue tinge). My husband Alan has a hat just like Josh and wears it all the time.. Go figure..It must be a male thing..
Posted by: Paola Norman | December 10, 2007 at 03:08 PM
looks like it was a wonderful wonderful day. . .family all together!
and now happy tree decorating :0>
~mary
Posted by: mary | December 10, 2007 at 03:08 PM
Amazing photos!
Posted by: Angie | December 10, 2007 at 03:25 PM
Priceless pictures, all of them! Love the vivid colors in Courtney's hat and jacket. Have snow here in Pennsylvania, but never actually knew someone who when in search of Christmas trees in the woods! What a fabulous tradition!
Posted by: Donna Bolsar | December 10, 2007 at 03:45 PM
So like could your pictures get any better???? the y are unbeleivable!!!! Wow!!!!
Posted by: Lynn | December 10, 2007 at 03:48 PM
I can not wait to visit your blog everyday. I just love, love, love it! Your photography is so good. It is so inspiring. I know you guys had so much fun!! It is 78 degrees here today in GA. YUCK! I can almost smell the cold air and hear the crunch of the snow under foot. Thank you for sharing! I look forward to more wonderful photos : )
Roxanne
Posted by: Roxanne | December 10, 2007 at 04:16 PM
Awesome photos! Love pics in the snow! The colors are so vivid! Just have to say, my 8 year old has the same coat as Coley...where did we get it? Target? I can't remember! LOL! I even had my son bring his in here so I could see if it was the same one! Sure enough...the patch on the arm and everything! I love orange! (Even though I live in Eugene!)
Posted by: Becky | December 10, 2007 at 05:19 PM
Wow!
Y'all look like you had an amazing time!
Kind of makes me want to give up my pre-lit tree...kind of!
lol!
Posted by: aja | December 10, 2007 at 05:23 PM
Wow Karen.. love our photos.. looks like sooo much fun.. I would soo love to pick out a Christmas tree like that... but then again.. not sure if I could handle that much cold.. I'll just enjoy your photos and pick up mine from Home Depot.. hahahahha
Posted by: teresa b | December 10, 2007 at 05:29 PM
I want to be a part of your family! You guys seem to always have an awesome time! Love the pictures (and stories) you share.
Posted by: Sally | December 10, 2007 at 05:29 PM
Beautiful photos!!! Wish I was there too. Someday I'll get to really see and touch snow. What a great tradition to do every year.
Posted by: Cheryl | December 10, 2007 at 06:50 PM
I have been stalking your blog for awhile now...I just LOVE your photos they are amazing! I especially like these! What an awesome tradition!
Cari
Posted by: cari | December 10, 2007 at 06:52 PM
absolutely fabulous! what an incredible day. thanks for sharing. we got our tree at WALMART this year. it's a log story but just know that it's already sucking water and dropping needles. it'll probably turn brown a week before christmas.
Posted by: | December 10, 2007 at 07:14 PM
These are the most WONDERFUL memory filled pictures ever! They make me smile and cold at the same time! Thanks for sharing your wonderful family on a daily basis! Merry Christmas!
Posted by: JustMeShann | December 10, 2007 at 08:30 PM
Karen, again those pictures were worth the wait from your last post !!
Stunning photos.
You are my photographer idol !
Laura P
Posted by: Laura Plunk | December 10, 2007 at 08:31 PM
I am SO jealous... that just looks like the most fun ever! Reminds me of summertime at our camp, but with all the wonder and magic of Christmas. You have the coolest family! It's funny because just the other day I spent (much too long) sifting through the archives here... reading up on all I missed out on in the early days. This is evidenced by the fact that Chloe (29 months) recognizes Annie when she walks by the computer... "oh! dat's not me, Cwooe, dat's Anndy!". I laugh so hard everytime... it's as if she's friends with her lol! Anyway, I read your Christmas posts from '05 and '06 then! And how you and Josh met, Annie's arrival... that is one amazing love story! I am so happy that you have been blessed with all of this :)
Posted by: shabbyVTchic | December 10, 2007 at 09:18 PM
Loved the photos . Please be careful. A friend did the same thing pulling his kids behind the truck in the snow.His daughter fell off ,hit her head and passed away.Please continue having fun but be so very careful.Love and Merry Christmas.
Posted by: babs | December 10, 2007 at 09:31 PM
Your pictures always tell such good stories even without the captions. I don't even know your family, but I love "reading" your picture stories.
Posted by: Jen | December 10, 2007 at 09:37 PM
so interesting to see how your photography skills & photo editing techniques have developed over the past few years through those easy links to 2005 & 2006. Love them all, but this year's batch is really incredible.
Posted by: nd | December 10, 2007 at 09:48 PM
HELLLLLLLLLLLLO! AMAZING photos...it did not look like that when we put up our prelit fake tree (allergies) and I yelled at Drew that he was going to throw my whole deal off by doing it in the dark so I had no ambient light to use- only tree lights! hee hee hee!
Posted by: JoAnn | December 10, 2007 at 11:01 PM
Karen,
Love the photos and the memories! Thanks for taking us along on your tradition!
Posted by: CyranoGal | December 10, 2007 at 11:07 PM
What a fun day you must have had!! You have great pictures of it all - am I surprised at that?!!!! No! And even though there's snow, it must have been pretty warm - lucky you! It's downright cold up here in Alberta. And I loved looking back at the previous years too. Happy Decorating!
Posted by: Crystal | December 10, 2007 at 11:09 PM
Those pictures are priceless, what a setting ! I never have taken good snow pictures, thanks for the advice, will try to shoot in manual if we ever see snow again here in wet and grey Germany, yuck !!
Posted by: Barbara | December 11, 2007 at 12:21 AM
Those pictures are priceless, what a setting ! I never have taken good snow pictures, thanks for the advice, will try to shoot in manual if we ever see snow again here in wet and grey Germany, yuck !!
Posted by: Barbara | December 11, 2007 at 12:22 AM
These are beautiful. I felt like I was there with you! Come to Michigan and teach me how to photograph like that! (yet another request...) Thank you for sharing!
carolynn
Posted by: carolynn | December 11, 2007 at 03:01 AM
Laydee... you rock! I just love your blog, love you piccies and love you.
Thank you for a wonderful post x
Posted by: polly | December 11, 2007 at 04:21 AM
WOW. Great outing. What a wonderful Christmas tradition for your family. They will always remember that!
Posted by: Kim B. | December 11, 2007 at 04:58 AM
LOVE the pictures, Karen! It looks like so much fun!
Posted by: kristina | December 11, 2007 at 05:42 AM
wonderful photos Karen! And it looks like everyone had a great time.
thanks for sharing......
Posted by: Nina | December 11, 2007 at 06:04 AM
As usual, your photos are amazing. I was especially struck by the vivid colors in the photos of Courtney, and how wonderful they look on her. We used to cut our own tree when my girls were young. Now I take it out of the box, set it in the stand, let the branches fall into place and plug it in. And sometimes it still looks like Charlie Brown's tree!
Posted by: Terrie | December 11, 2007 at 07:09 AM
It's now official, I totally want to join your family. I have had these thoughts for a while now, but this post sealed the deal. :) What a great time! Your kids (and their friends) are going to have the best memories of this event and hopefully will continue it on as they get older. Thank you so much for sharing. It's especially nice to see since there is no snow where we live and I can get my fix vicariously (since the thought of living in real snow is not too appealing).
Alison
Posted by: Alison | December 11, 2007 at 07:53 AM
Love the photos. What great memories to have and be able to relive. As far as the classes, I would need a basic class on using an SLR. Then it would be great to have classes that are more advanced as I became better with the camera. And yes I would love photo editing classes. Sounds like a lot, but you could start and keep adding as you are able, and the classes become easier, because you have all the information done. Sounds marvelous. But keep doing the classes. I love them. At the very least, keep making the kits, with photos and instructions, not the same, but a damn site better that nothing!!! Have a Merry Christmas, and wonderful Holiday season!!!
Posted by: Terri B in Oregon | December 11, 2007 at 11:43 AM
lurve your photos!!!!
Can you tell me how you get that dark edge(especially at the corners)Is it a vignette?
Can you share your settings,the colours are amazing!How much is SOOC,and how much is editing,I love that you share so much of your talent with us here - love your blog!
Posted by: Tracey Mclean | December 11, 2007 at 01:19 PM
amazing.
wow.
what an incredible time and this documentation is beyond words.
:)
Posted by: melissa deakin | December 11, 2007 at 07:11 PM
OMG Karen...this pictures are incredible! seriously LOVED them...
i wanna be you when i grow up :)
Posted by: Carrie K | December 11, 2007 at 09:27 PM
Sorry- Forget my question about Oasis. I just went to their blog. YEAH!!! I hope I'm not to late to get in your class. I'll cross my fingers again....
Posted by: t yourstone | December 11, 2007 at 09:57 PM
karen I just love these photos......they are filled with christmas and holiday good stuff, thanks for for letting us peek into your life. tena
Posted by: Tena | December 12, 2007 at 02:01 PM