Picking the Taylor Family Tree

Twenty-one years ago, when our family began, we vowed to carry on a Wilson Family Tradition. To search, find, cut & bring a live Christmas Tree into our home for the season. Although this tradition seems silly to some of you "Fake Tree" owners - This is where we see the true feelings of family companionship & bonding...out on the wide open Christmas Tree farms of the Kansas plains. Our family has been tested & strengthened! It is the place you find out who is "worthy" to own one of these majestic beauties!
In years past, we have braved every element nature had to throw at us! Wind, sleet, snow, rain & ice, I've got to say the ice was the worst! But we did it! So, with a fresh viewing of National Lampoons "Christmas Vacation" under our belts, we set out on Grandpa Wilson's birthday to find

"The Taylor Family Christmas Tree".

Here is Mercedes displaying her winter boots for the occasion.

Everyone else wore jeans or shorts and sandals.

We piled into the van, and crossed busy Bell Road and entered the Safeway Parking lot. You're probably wondering if we were refueling before our journey... sadly, No! "We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto!" We're in Arizona - the Valley of the Sun - so adjustments had to be made. As we searched for the perfect tree, you know the one - it's lit from Heaven - we walked the lot of 40-50 trees once, let Dowlin pick the tree, waved down the guy with the dolley, paid, and were back home all with in 15 minutes! No joke!

The good news is we were happy with the tree - and quickly began the rest of the tradition - sorry Dad, we didn't soak it in warm water in the garage over night so the branches would "fall".

Everyone had a chance to Trim the tree in one way or another

We needed a hole for the back side of the tree anyway, Lol

Dowlin topped it off with the Traditional Angel

Then the wait for Santa began! We had a very nice Christmas and enjoyed our time together, we played games and ate way too many goodies.

I only tell you this tale to keep from crying, we have learned to adjust to the weather here, but we still enjoy reminiscing about the fun days we spent in search of the perfect tree. The wagon rides and cocoa, and candy canes, the torpedo tree, and the ice! These are the family memories that will carry from one generation to the next, even our 2008, 15 minute hunt! lol

Merry Christmas to you all - May you pass on a tradition to your children as well!