The Tree and the Santa Train

On December 5th, we all ventured out to get our Christmas tree and drive to Portola, CA to go on the Santa Train. This was the first year Dan & I went to a tree lot to purchase a tree rather than go into the nearby forest and cut one down. So we shopped instead of chopped! =)

However this tree lot wasn't just an ordinary tree lot. The proceeds from the sales of the trees is going to a community in Africa to dig a well to provide that community with fresh water. It was the easiest tree hunt I'd been on. We walked among the many beautiful trees, chose one, purchased it.....

and they carried it to our truck!!!

Carleigh was exhausted from the shopping experience!

We made it to Portola by evening to ride the Santa Train. So pretty!

Carleigh was very excited to ride the train and we had Jianna bundled up pretty good. There was some snow on the ground and it was cold, but enjoyable.

And the Santa Train wouldn't be complete without Santa & Mrs. Clause. Carleigh scowled at the man in red and didn't want to sit on his lap. She wanted to ride the train. Jianna is too young to know any better so this is the great picture we got of the three of them. Too sweet.

After our outing, a big snow storm came through our area leaving the roads difficult to drive. Dan would get home very late from work and it didn't leave us enough time in the evening to decorate the tree with Carleigh. So it was later in the week we finally had the opportunity to decorate the tree.

Carleigh had a hard time getting the hooks on the branches but she did pretty good. She lost interest quickly but hung around while Dan & I finished putting the ornaments on the tree. Yes, the tree has some blue to it. It's so pretty!

Our finished product!!