Christmas Tree Hunt

Yesterday Jason introduced me to his family's annual tradition: Christmas tree hunting in the mountains. We drove with his family, cousins, aunts, and unlcles to the Caribou forest with our $10 per tree permits (twice what they've been in the past, I guess, but still a good deal) and set out in couples to find the perfect Alpine. Jason and I tromped through the mountain for hours looking for one that matched all his requirements: no "doubles" (two trees growing in one), no "bald spots," no dead spots, not too tall, not too short, not too fat or thick or bushy or skinny....Those poor trees had no idea of the strict criteria that needed to meet by this fall.

While we looked, I collected a beautiful fall boquet of a velvety red star leaf, cream seed pods, etc. The mountains are so beautiful! It was the most perfect day to go out. Pine saturated the air, reminding me of camping on Mt. Lemon as a little girl. Birch trees covered every space in the forest, though. Jason told me they all share one (or a couple) root systems. That's amazing. It felt good to be up there with my husband.

When we didn't have any luck finding a tree within a mile or two of our cars, I took my first ride on a four-wheeler to look for other clearings. It was fun! We just stayed on the trail and then walked to any trees we thought might work. They always look so perfect from far away. I can't wait until we have a 20-ft. ceiling in a billion years and can put up one of those gorgeous tall ones...

Well, we eventually found our tree. Jason expertly cut it down with a big chain saw. Now it's resting in Eric's yard completely oblivious to the fact it's no longer standing in the forest. Jason says it will wake up from its dormant state when it gets into our warm (yeah, right) living room. Then, it thinks it's spring, and a lot of times it even puts on new growth. That's cool! I'm enjoying my introduction to live Christmas trees.

Jason's aunt and uncle left a chainsaw by a tree they'd cut down somewhere in the middle of the forest a few miles out, and then they headed toward another tree that looked just perfect. Awhile later, they realized they were completely lost and had no idea where they were, let alone the chainsaw. A couple of hours later they finally found civilization, but all the guys formed a search party for the tree and chainsaw. After an hour they came back with both, and then as we were starting the Yukon to leave, it wouldn't start! The trunk had been open all afternoon because people had been getting food out of it, and the battery had died. Luckily, ONE out of five vehicles had a jump cable. Sad, isn't it? I'm just glad one of them had one! We were half an hour late for stake conference, but at least we made it! It was a great day.

My birthday

As you've noticed, I've decided to start this website. We don't call it a blog. Jason hates that name even more than I do. So this is my new Sunday project. Just hold me to it. :)

Today it's my birthday! This morning I woke up early to get ready to spend another day with my fifth graders. Jason had a late night studying the past couple of nights, and he still got to sleep for another hour. When I went into the bathroom, I was a little disappointed that the mirror wasn't decorated in dry erase marker and that their weren't any flowers or anything. That's what Mom always did, and I loved that tradition! I couldn't expect Jason to do that though, since I never told him about it. (I'll have to change that!) Anyways, when I went back into our room though awhile later, there was a great big gift bag and a little one and a card on my side of the bed. Jason was "asleep" on his side still. I was very happily surprised! That was thoughtful of him! The card was really sweet. It's always disappointing to get a great looking card and to open it up and have it say "love, Bob," or whoever, and that's it. :) Dad's always make me cry, of course, but I like it. I'm glad Jason is a good card maker. Maybe by the time he's forty something, he'll write as long of notes as Dad does.

Last night Jason mentioned that we should eat right after he gets home from class tonight (I think he's planning something for tonight). I was a little sad that I'd have to grow up and make my own birthday dinner. He did bring up that we'd already had my birthday dinner Saturday night at Johnny Carino's though. So whatever. But then I got home today from school and on the dry erase board in the kitchen said "I fibbed. Don't touch anything in this kitchen! Love, Jason. :)" That made my day even better! I can't wait to see what else he does!!

Oh, my fifth graders were so great today. I made them cupcakes to celebrate my birthday, which they loved. All of them told me happy birthday at least a half a dozen times, it seemed. During lunch, the office lady came in saying they had flowers delivered for Mrs. Scoresby. I was surprised and thought, "oh, so this is what Jason has up his sleeve?" but it wasn't from him! It was from Melissa, one of my students. I guess her mom owns a flower shop, and she wanted to give me some. I got a beautiful peach rose with glitter sprayed on it (my favorite) with little bluish-purple flowers around it. It's beautiful! That was so thoughtful of her.

Can't wait to find out what Jason has planned for tonight! He always thinks up the sweetest things.