A DAY AT THE CHRISTMAS TREE FARM

Happy Holidays from my family to yours! 

         For the past four years, it has been our little family tradition to get a live Christmas tree from the local nursery! This year, we cut our own! It was not planned of course, we love to do things spontaneously, all the time!

         It was two weeks before Christmas when we cut our tree. We attended a Breakfast with Santa event in Leesburg and after Alex had his photos taken, we got in our car and decided to pick our tree! On our way to the nursery, I thought why not cut our own tree this year? So I asked my wife, Riza, if she knew a Christmas tree farm in the area.  Then we thought to just drive all the way to the country! We were set to head to Berryville! We had the Chipmunks Christmas songs playing in our car, Alex was singing loudly and we joined along – we were having a great morning so far. Halfway through, we passed by a beautiful mountainside full of Christmas trees. I told my wife, that would be a great place to take pictures! A few seconds later, we saw a big sign off the road pointing to that place that said “Cut Your Own Tree!” I looked at my wife and with no words said, I quickly made a turn and voila! We found ourselves at the Snickers Gap Christmas Tree Farm!

Here are a few of our favorites from our family album. Enjoy!

The breathtaking view of the farm.

[et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”right” text_line_height=”2em” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

There was no time to waste so Alex started to wander and looked for a tree!

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”right” text_line_height=”2em” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Alex had other personal motives, he was not just there to find a tree, but also to find treasures for him to keep!

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”right” text_line_height=”2em” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

While I was busy looking for our tree as well, mommy and Alex had some time to play hide and seek!

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Mommy and Alex peek-a-boo 01″ src=”https://joffoto.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8391/2015/12/JFT_1283.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_image admin_label=”Mommy and Alex peek-a-boo 02″ src=”https://joffoto.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8391/2015/12/JFT_1152.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_image admin_label=”Mommy and Alex peek-a-boo 03″ src=”https://joffoto.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8391/2015/12/JFT_1316.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”right” text_line_height=”2em” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Of course we had to take family pictures with this amazing background!

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”right” text_line_height=”2em” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Can you spot Riza? She was so busy looking for the perfect tree! [smile][/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Mommy looking for our tree!” src=”https://joffoto.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8391/2015/12/JFT_1200.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”right” text_line_height=”2em” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Mommy found our tree and Alex agreed 100%!

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”We found our tree!” src=”https://joffoto.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8391/2015/12/JFT_1339-double.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”right” text_line_height=”2em” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Photo-op before we cut our tree! Say cheese!

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”right” text_line_height=”2em” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

I got down to business right away! It was not easy I must say.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”right” text_line_height=”2em” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Alex was very helpful! I taught him how to use the saw and he tried it by himself! Such a big boy!

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”right” text_line_height=”2em” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

         Right before our tree fell, Alex shouted: “TIMBER!!!” Then he added now let’s rope it up! This kid, I don’t know where he learns these words!

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Let’s rope it up!” src=”https://joffoto.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8391/2015/12/JFT_1386.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_image admin_label=”Let’s rope it up 01″ src=”https://joffoto.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8391/2015/12/JFT_1399.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_image admin_label=”Let’s rope it up 02″ src=”https://joffoto.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8391/2015/12/JFT_1401.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”right” text_line_height=”2em” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

         Alex volunteered to do the roping. He was very good, but when he started pulling our tree, his roping did not work. He asked for help of course.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Let’s rope it up 03″ src=”https://joffoto.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8391/2015/12/JFT_1423.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”right” text_line_height=”2em” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

         Alex and I started pulling our tree. We tripped over once. He said, let me do it myself. He could not do it by himself of course.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Let’s pull 01″ src=”https://joffoto.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8391/2015/12/JFT_1427.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_image admin_label=”Let’s pull 02″ src=”https://joffoto.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8391/2015/12/JFT_1429.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_image admin_label=”Let’s pull 03″ src=”https://joffoto.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8391/2015/12/JFT_1438.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”right” text_line_height=”2em” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Mommy to the rescue! [smile][/et_pb_text]

We finally made it out the obstacles! Alex got so tired, he rested for a few minutes and then he started smiling again.

We had to name our tree!

Alex did not keep his eyes off our tree! He patiently waited for it to be ready!

         He paid for our tree at the cashier. While waiting for our tree to load up on a tractor, Alex was able to play for a few minutes.

We had to show off our dirty boots. Living in the country ain’t that easy. The struggle is real. [smile]

[/et_pb_text]

I loaded the tree on the roof of our car. It was ready to be shipped home! What a day!

[/et_pb_text]

        Riza and I are doing our best to give our son, Alex, what he deserves in life. We want to make his childhood a very memorable one!  The childhood memories that we didn’t experience growing up.

Cheers!

Jof

Location: Snickers Gap Christmas Tree Farm, Roundhill VA