There’s something truly magical about the moment our family piles into the car, bundled in layers, ready for our annual Christmas tree hunt 🎄✨ . Every year we drive out to our favorite tree farm, and every year it feels like stepping straight into a holiday movie (which in a previous life I may have been a Christmas movie actress) rows of evergreens, the scent of pine lingering in the air, and families wandering through the fields in search of the tree.
This year, though, had a little extra sparkle.
As we wandered through the farm searching for the perfect tree to cut, it started to flurry. The snow covered the ground as our girls rolled in the snow and tried to catch the snowflakes in their mouth like Sven in Frozen. And unlike last year, when our adventure ended in tears, overwhelm, and one very memorable case of low blood sugar, this time everything worked out. Everyone was in good spirits, and the excitement never dipped. Sometimes the simplest difference (like snacks packed ahead of time!) really is the key to holiday harmony. My husband knows the drill by now, we walk through rows and rows of trees looking for the perfectly shaped one. He's been part of this adventure for over 10 years, so he knows what we are alooking for.
But the hit of the day? Hands down the steaming hot apple cider from the farm stand. The moment the girls took their first sip, we knew it was going to take something like magic to get them back in the car. After multiple mini paper cups of apple cider, the next stop was “Letters to Santa” table where the kids poured their holiday wishes onto paper with the kind of seriousness only children can muster. With children ages 4 and 2, it was slightly comical to watch the two scribbles of crayon go on the paper before shoving it into the Santa mailbox, but it's all about the experience.
We left the tree farm with rosy cheeks and our family Christmas tree in the back of the truck. It was one of those days that reminds you why traditions matter, not because they’re always perfect, but because each year adds a new chapter (and hopefully fewer meltdowns!).
Here’s to more magic, more snowflakes, and many more cups of hot apple cider. 🎄✨
Here are some local places to find a tree of your own (we have not visited all of these, but just sharing the list):
