Timber!

Day 353:

What a day, Conor!  When we finally got  this train moving this morning, thankfully with Mommy feeling much better than the chills and 102 degree fever she had last night, it would be a day of a great many things, Son.  Specifically, it was first a stop to Costco to buy a new television for our revamped living room, next a spot of lunch at a local Mexican eatery, and then it was off to cut down our Christmas tree!

For the last several years Mommy and I have been making our way to the Virginia hill country to actually walk the vast acreage of Christmas trees, choose one, and cut it down to bring home.  This of course would be the first year we could do that with you, Son!  And so we made our way to Ticonderoga Farms in Chantilly, VA to find such a tree.  Though this year, I brought a secret weapon, Conor.

In years past I would get the obligatory hand saw from the tree peddler, Mommy would walk aimlessly to find the perfect tree, and when she did I would nod and agree then get down on my knees to hack at the bastard until it would finally fall... Then I would drag the poor thing several hundred yards to the bailer for it's wrap up and placement on the roof of our Tahoe...  Well this year would be different, Boy'O.  Despite a few troubles with the chain tension on the 'hot saw' and a couple of quick repairs along side the waiting tree to get everything just right, I hit that tree with the chain saw and it came down in a matter of seconds.  Quick, easy, and with tools that most men wouldn't ever conceive of running... And for good reason.

I then dragged my trophy tree a couple hundred feet to the bailers, paid the fare, and loaded you and Mommy into the truck, both victorious and satisfied... More than anything, those men I mentioned who shouldn't operate such equipment, well, they looked on us with a great deal of envy, Son.  Perhaps that's something you should get used to...

When we finally made it home it was time to hook up the new 42" Vizio television and get started on enjoying the living room more than we have in the last 10 years...  A few pitfalls aside, we were off and running, Boy'O!

Tomorrow will be a bit more in terms of time to put up our tree, some new drapes, and pull the pin on the Christmas bomb...  And so with that, I'l say goodnight.  But a fun day, Son.  Truly.  And maybe a new tradition for our family!

I love you, Conor.
-Dad