Schwartz Family

This year, we returned to Applewood Farms to acquire the Christmas conifer. Last year we were too cold to take the girls on the train. This year we went the first weekend of December on a sunny afternoon so it would be less cold and less dark. And the train was out of order for the weekend. The sign said it only runs in frigid temps, and only when you are in the midst of potty training and/or nursing children. Or it said to come back next weekend. Either way, we missed out on the train again. Also, there was no pony ride this time, as the horse had evidently gone blind. But this tree and reindeer weren't too bummed.

The tractor pulled us out to the trees and we made our selection pretty quick. But, as Chris drew the saw, the girls changed their minds...

After felling our find, we realized we missed the customary photo op, so here we are in front of a stand in tree.

Then we said hello to a sheep, a pig, two goats, and a blind horse.

Anna feeding the sheep; Sonja looking on anxiously.

Sonja was more into the John Deere.

They had a paved area with different little bikes and a Sonja sized Deere.

There was also a ring toss with reindeer antlers, which I didn't get a picture of, but when Anna saw it, she said, "Is this Ring the Gack?" (Dr. Seuss fans appreciate.)
Back home, tree trimming.

We let the girls hang everything but the really fragile ornaments wherever they wanted to. They moved them around a little bit the next day and lost two of the metal hooks. After spending twenty minutes on the side of my face scanning the floor, I finally found the tetanus-laden sharps and we moved everything up. Someone told me about plastic hooks, but for some reason, this month has been kind of busy and I haven't had a chance to look for them. And the girls haven't minded, and I don't mind our tree looking like it's in a flood zone.
Anyway, hope everyone is having a jolly Saturday!