December 4, 2006

• The annual Kinne Christmas tree hunting and gathering trip...

  It has become tradition over the years that the weekend after Thanksgiving is the time for the annual Christmas tree hunting and gathering.  As you can imagine in a family with 10 children, 2 parents, 3 spouses, and [this year] 8 grandchildren [one in utero] - throw in a cousin or two and and our favorite aunt - well - that is a LOT of people to coordinate...
  This year was no exception.  We were missing my brother Joe, and my brother Caleb and his family, but the rest of us were there in full force - even baby Addison at six weeks old....
  The rest of us bundled up in our warmest post-ice storm winter wear and made the trek out to the tree farm.  It was the first year in a long time that there was snow, and it was beautiful...
  Now let me explain how this all works - upon arrival at the tree farm, we pile out of the caravan of vehicles, gather the wagons for carting back the trees, grab some saws and head out over hill and dale - through the acres of hills that contain the tree farm. 
  Since everything is a competition in our family, of course we all want to be the one to find the 'perfect' tree....so we spread out [while staying in the same vicinity - within hollering distance], and when a tree is found that you think is 'the one', you holler for everyone else to come and approve.
  Again - with this many people involved, it can take a LONG TIME to find just the right one - one that everyone can agree on - or at least get a majority vote. 
  Usually there is at least one heated discussion, or tears shed - even a declaration a time or two that 'I am NEVER doing this again - no one listens to me'...blah, blah, blah...
  As my siblings have gotten married, and there are more households added to the mix, and more trees to gather - [this year three] the gathering becomes a lengthy process.  And cold. Like two and a half hours this year...
  Despite [or maybe because of] all of these things however, this annual tradition has become a family favorite, and one that we look forward to every year.
  I'll quit talking now and leave you with some of the pictures of the day.

  Piling out of the car - Mom, my brother Sam, and baby Addison [after seeing these pictures, we told mom she had to ditch the dorky sunglasses - she is too cool for them really]

  
  

  The snow/ice/cold hit the area before my nephew Ian's momma and daddy
  [my sister Hannah and brother in law John] were totally prepared - so I
  got a HUGE kick out of Ian's borrowed boots and mittens from my nieces
  - yep - they are totally pink.  He is one secure-in-his-manhood boy...

   
  

  Pinch - my nieces Bethany and Tabitha.

  

  Sam and Abe pulling the wagons as we get started.

  

  This is my favorite shot of the day - my sister Jannah with Tabitha and
  Bethany [she is a GREAT aunt to those girls...by far their favorite and
  for very good reason ]

  

  My sister Hannah, BIL John, and nephew Ian...[not shown - baby in utero]

  

  My brothers Ben and Abe in the midst of the HUGE snowball fight that
  lasted nearly the entire trip.  It was such fun to watch the 'grown
  men' turn into little boys again and have such fun together - totally
  blessed my heart.  I was super glad that I had baby Addison strapped to
  me in the front pack so that I had immunity from the snowballs...

  
  

  

  My brother Ben and his wife [my sister in love] Brittney

  

  Me with the girls - L to R - Tabitha, Addison [in the front pack] and Bethany

  

  Jannah with Tabitha...

  

  Bethany enjoying some snow...

  

  Random shot of my brother Jordan

  

  Jannah and Hannah [ignore Ian - he was NOT wanting to be held/in the picture at all]

  

  Last, but not least...my brothers Abe, Sam, Jesse and Jordan.  This
  picture is a perfect example of why we do not have any family pictures
  including everyone - at least from the last ten years - it is just too
  hard to get everyone to coorporate, not squint, not think that it is
  hysterical to be goofy - you get the picture...

  

  So there you go.  Next year you wanna come? 

  

  • 10:43 pm
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