Christmas Tree Hunting Part 2

As promised here is a photo of Roy and I taken by Tina!

I had to grab a photo of just the skis! It was a cool fence! At Zeke's

Let me spell it out for you.....Roy Rowland

oh and I almost forgot this one of all of us at the tree farm!


Roy bought me a fresh wreath!


More Rowland Advetures to come!

Happy Birthday!!!

Tom and Lisa, You have a beautiful birthday girl! =)

Happy Birthday miss Sarah!!!

{Frees Family 2008} Hunting for the perfect Christmas tree....or two

Here are some photos from the Frees-Family-Christmas-tree-hunting, last Saturday November 29th. We drove up to a cute little tree farm in Sultan or near Sultan, I don't know, I just know that it was a ways out there! It was a fun little drive with the fam though!

It was raining a very fine spray, but a lot of it....sideways....which made for an awesome time trying to take photos! I wish someone had taken a photo of me...you would have seen a girl with a heavy camera in both hands, snapping photos while holding the umbrella underneath her chin. I am surprised the shots even came out straight!! Roy did assist me sometimes with holding it while dashing around trying to keep up with me as I was trying to keep up with the kids. They were so excited to find the perfect tree.....or two. Yes, they got two awesome trees for their adorable house.

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SO the Journey began......
With the light misty rain, the family set off to look for their tree...
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Mama Tina was confident that they would be led to the perfect two!

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Mr Jeshua was a fine tree hunter and a big help to Dad!

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On their journey, Jesh and Jaida found the farm cat and stopped to say hello. It purred with delight that they had come to visit this humble little tree farm.

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Dad was serious -business in the hunt....

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Miss Jaida was such a big help too!! She loved to help by carefully carrying the saw that would be used to cut down the best tree ever!

They had such a great time all together. It was a wonderful adventure they knew they would remember forever.

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Both Mama and Miss Addie, looked and looked for the perfect Frees family Christmas tree! There was so much joy in the air as they explored

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It took time to find the right tree, it needed to jump out at them and say something like, "hey over here, take me home with you! I want to be a part of your family this Christmas!!"

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Mama and the girls made it a task to give some love to one another on their quest!

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Jeshua and Jaida tried and tried to find the tree that was to go home with them that day.
On their journey, they found a teeny, tiny, eentsy weentsy, itsy, bitsy, tree. They were so excited and asked, "look! what about this one?? we like this one!! it's so cute!"
"Oh, that one is very cute, but it needs a little more time to grow. Maybe someday it will be big enough to take home with us." mama said.

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Miss Addie went all over the farm seeking out which tree was special enough for them

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All the sudden they stopped... and lo' and behold, the tree! He reached out his bow, and in a kind voice said, "hello, my name is Mr Tree, how do you do?" Everyone was so happy to have found him, he was beautiful! Mama was so happy. She was picturing all the best places she could place Mr Tree in the house and all the fun little trimmings to hang from his bows.

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The family was filled with lots of cheer!

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Now it was time to take Mr Tree to get his fitting for his protective wrapping needed for the ride to his new home. The kids ran fast to see how it was done!

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He was a big 'ol tree. He had eaten very well during the spring and summer, plumping himself up to look his very best to be picked by the perfect family.

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It took 4 strong men to pull Mr. Tree into his protective wrapping. But with lots of tugs they got him in. He giggled and giggled as they didn't realize they were tickling him so much he just couldn't stop laughing.

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Now he was ready for what I have heard, that is one of the trees' favorite parts of the experience.....getting to ride on top of the car!!

Well that's their second favorite, their first favorite of course is getting all dressed up for Jesus' birthday with their special family!

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So now that Mr Tree was found, the family went out again to find the second Frees family Christmas tree.

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Dad was having a hard time finding another great tree. Even though all the trees in the farm were perfect and great in there own special ways, he just new that there was the right one that was meant to go home with his family.

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Then, miss Addie spotted it! "Look! Look over there! I think I see the one that is going home with us!"

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Now, this tree was even bigger! He was bigger than all the rest. He was the King Tree of the farm. He said to the family, in his deep, gentle voice, "Well, hello there everyone! I have been watching you all with such joy in my heart going to-and-fro, all around my beautiful farm. You passed me by several times, but I just watched you all with anticipation, because I knew you would find me and choose me, I just had to be patient.

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Miss Jaida looked up at King Tree and said to him, "Mr King Tree, will you come home with us and help make our Christmas this year more special than its ever been? We will decorate you oh so very handsomely and you will be the One that all the trees will follow and want to be like. We will sing songs and play games and eat treats and you can be a part of it all if you would honor us with your presence this Christmas!"

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So King Tree granted miss Jaida's request saying, "Yes, all you needed was to ask! Of course I will come home with you! My wish has been to be with you and warm your hearts this special season. I choose to be cut down for you!

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Because King Tree was the biggest in the farm, Dad had a difficult time cutting him down. But Dad found within himself even more strength that he'd ever had. So with all his might, Dad cut down King Tree!

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Mama was so happy and smiled with amazement to see that King Tree and Mr Tree were coming with THEM.

Of all the families, they could have chosen to go home with, these two very special trees chose the Frees family!

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As the family drove away from the magical tree farm, miss Jaida had an overjoyed feeling in her heart that this Christmas was going to be very special!

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As they left the farm, all the trees rejoiced that King tree and Mr Tree was going home. All the trees said their goodbyes with cheers and joyful sounds.

"Goodbye for now! we will see you again one day!"

For they knew in their hearts they would........................

The End
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After the fun adventure at the tree farm, the Frees family tradition is to go to Zeke's.

They were hungry from all the hunting and exploring so ordered the "best burgers ever" as Tina puts it. And that is coming from a girl who doesn't eat meat a whole lot. These burgers were huge! But they were just the side. So pretty much you got a whole plate full of fries and a side order of huger burger!

The kidd-os couldn't wait to get theirs. Jaida was chanting "we want our food" in an ogre kind of way, while Jesh was imaginarily cutting with his cool pocket knife, perhaps into his juicy burger that was to come.

I love you guys! Uncle Roy and I had such a great time with you all, making memories!!!!

Gary and Elizabeth November 23, 2008

So, Mom and Gary are married!! I am so happy! This Thanksgiving, I told Gary that I was thankful for him.
My heart feels complete. The puzzle is put together!

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It was a crazy week! A shower, flowers, bachelorette party, pedi's and mani's that mom treated us to (thanks mom!), shopping for last minute things, going to and fro crazily. But when Sunday came, it was perfect!!!!

Though it started I think about 20-25 minutes late....due to two bridesmaids trying to finish getting mom ready and then themselves.... =) There was a lot to do and all the rushing in and out of the bridal room, everytime I'd see mom, she was standing there in the middle of the room, in her wedding dress, calm, beautiful, and looking absolutely regal. She kept saying how much she felt like a queen. She looked like one! She had such a gorgeous glow about her! This day is a day she has dreamt of and she and everything looked just like a dream.

So about 15 min after the ceremony was to start....I rush into the bathroom with Kristin and she helps me put my hair up. It was hilarious because Gary, John (Pastor), Eric (best man), and Roy were standing there waiting to begin and as we ran by them they looked at us a little confused and panicked. We finally got everything all together, grabbing a few tissues and my bouquet, we lined up. The music began and away the men went. Mom got behind me, I fixed her train and Roy took her arm.

As she walked down the aisle my heart filled with joy to see her looking at all her loved ones who've been there from the beginning and then seeing her husband-to-be. It was such an emotional ceremony. All three of us girls cried. I needed a bucket for all the tears and snot! =)

Ok, So the photos....you'll have to excuse them...some turned out great. but others, not so good since I was too busy being a Matron of Honor/daughter/florist/semi-wedding coordinator.
I wasn't able to really focus on getting perfect pictures =( It was hard trying to get ready and then grabbing my camera really quick taking a shot and not having time to get the settings just right.....Here are a few and perhaps I'll post more later....

Above is an example of being in too big of a hurry and trying to take photos...but I wanted to show my mama's bouquet!

God blessed this broken road!
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