Christmas tree hunting

We decided to try hunting down our own Christmas Tree this year.

With permit in hand we headed to Sisters into the Deschutes National Forest.

Thankfully it wasn't too cold or snowy because we stopped several times and hiked

around looking for the perfect tree.

 





 We liked the fullness and softness of the Noble Fir.

Finally along the Metolius River we found it!

It was a really fun time, Jaxon was totally into it, he even did the majority of hand sawing.

We liked the tree, it didn't look too big out in the wilderness and if was nice and full.



Carrying out our tree.





He's a little happy about the tree he bagged! I think he misses hunting!



Thanksgiving 2018

Making pumpkin pies on Wednesday

 

Originally I decided that since the majority of us were working on Thanksgiving that we would wait until the weekend or maybe just let it pass on by. But then I worried that I shouldn't let the importance of Thanksgiving and being w family be skipped, but shared w Jaxon. So very last minute I let the kids know thanksgiving , albeit small, was on.

 



Jaxon really enjoyed learning how to make pies, telling him how Grandpa Dale prided himself on making the flakiest crusts,(wish I had the recipe, but I really don't think it was written down), although I prefer the ease of rolling out the Pillsbury ones, and how Grandma Ginger would make the pretty edges on the pie crusts

 

Thursday morning after getting home from work I helped Mitch and Jaxon lay out the making of dinner plans and then went to bed. At 4 pm when I woke they had the Turkey, stuffing, gravy, steamed broccoli, cranberry, olives and of course pumpkin pie- just our faves.

 



Morgan picked up the Thanksgiving shift at the hospital,

which made it nice working the holiday w family

Dawson's Day

I got to spend the whole day w the birthday boy and his mamma.

Dawson and me along the river.

We started out by taking a hike along the portion of Crooked River

that runs through Smith Rock State Park.

It was a beautiful day

 

A couple of cuties sneaking a selfie on my phone

 



Dawson chose to go to Mountain Air, a trampoline park, for his Birthday. Lots of fun!



Ethan, Kaleb and Morgan

 

Opening presents and having Birthday Cheesecake to finish up a great day

 

Getting to see the U.S. Capitol Tree in Bend

 

What a fun event... the 'People's tree' came out of the Willamette wilderness, an 80 ft Noble Fir

Photobombing the Christmas Carolers

 

 

We signed our names, which would later be joined by Benson's, Miah's and Abby's, when the tree made a stop in Pocatello.

 

I get a little sentimental this time of year, especially when I come across these white haired and bearded Santas enjoying the season and making it a little more special for others.

 

Headed to see the Grinch movie. I LOVE that he stills holds my hand!

Chush Falls - Upper whychus Creek - Sisters Wilderness, Oregon

Mitch and I hiked in to find Chush Falls and were not disappointed! It was a good hike, the temp was cool but we stayed plenty warm. The water level is a little low but as Mitch pointed out it looks like half of a skull face emerging from underneath the water.