Sunday 27 November 2011

Thanksgiving traditions!

We love Thanksgiving in our house.
It is such a fun time of year,
It is a good chance to let each other know how thankful we are for each other.
But it is also the day we put up our Christmas decorations.

This year we decided we wanted to put up a real tree...
So we searched the net for somewhere to buy our tree,
but then the answer to where to get it from came on the back of a car park ticket!
Samuel noticed the ticket had an advert for Christmas trees.

This place was frankly AMAZING!
The children had a fabulous time.

When we went in we were welcomed by the Head Elf,
Who was very Jolly and kind and helpful.
All the children received a Lolly to start of the fun
while the adults discussed the boring stuff.

Then it was time to go off to the tractor!


As I am sure you can tell the children did not need telling twice!

 They thought all their Christmases had come at once...
but they had seen nothing yet!


Before leaving for the field they each received a quiz 
(cost was £1.50 per child - includes gift),
Clues were hidden all around the farm for the children to find.


They rather enjoyed this bit,
I afraid there were many shouts for joy as they found Elves
dotted around the plantation.


Not all of them from the children....

Liliana had fun running through the trees.

Finding unlikely friends along the way!

And some very exciting friends too!

The Santa was cleverly shhh'ing the children so as to 
not ruin the big surprise ahead.
(we didn't tell the children about the gifts!)
They loved the gifts!


Even Oliver... 
though his mittens made it hard to enjoy them too much....


 Opps!

Ok, so with all the hunting fun we almost forgot why we were there in the first place.
To find a tree!
We had many, many to choose from...
Once we got it down to two we had a family vote
and this is the one we chose!


Our tree!!!
So we tagged it and then went to tell the staff which we wanted.
Immediately they jumped on their Quad bike with a trailer and went to cut it down!
Talk about service!!


and while we waited for the tractor to come back we were able to
warm our toes and fingers on the fire.


Within a matter of minutes we watched our tree being taken off 
to the shop area to be netted.
(and then even carried to our car!)


Yay! Our tree!!
Then the Tractor came...


Micah loved watching the tractor!
Their was only one problem...


Ladybirds!!
Our tree seemed to be home to a giant family of Lady birds!!

As far as pests go I am glad it was such sweet, harmless,
happily handled and happy to handle bugs!
Thank goodness it wasn't spiders!!
(The car is still full of them)

Ok, so here it is...
Our tree all decorated!


Very happy with it.
It is a Blue Spruce!

and here is an extra pic just for fun...


We had exactly the right amount of time before dinner was ready 
to decorate the tree.

After dinner we took some time aside to read our
'Because you're fabulous' jar notes!
I have to say, this is got to be up there with our favorite traditions.
I love my family and I love experiencing fun and wonderful things with them.
I am so thankful for my famly,
and for places like Fillingham Trees who help us develope Magical Memories
which will last our family a lifetime!

Happy Thanksgiving!!










1 comment:

  1. Fun!! The finished product looks wonderful... but aren't you a bit early to hang stockings up?? Father Christmas might think you're naughty :-O!

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