picTORIal: The McDermott Christmas Tree
Last weekend we set out as a family to find the perfect Christmas tree. We headed to the Santa Paula Christmas Tree Farm, where we’d be able to choose our perfect tree and cut it down ourselves. I love getting the kids involved in activities like this... it’s so special for us to be able to share these moments as a family, and then share the photos with you! Here’s my picTORIal from our day at the Christmas tree farm…
Here's the name of the fabulous Christmas tree farm we spent the afternoon at
To get to the actual tree farm we had to take a train ride (where they sang Christmas caroles the whole way!). Arriving at the train station we see the beautiful vintage-y holiday décor
Dad and Hattie get our tickets
A vintage carousel kept the kids busy till it was time to board the train
Stella meets a new friend who cracked her up!
All aboard!!
Hattie cat was fascinated by all the giant sized colored Christmas ornaments
Here's our conductor
Inside of the vintage train
Air pumps to show the excitement!
Stella is ready for some hot chocolate and a train ride!
Finn is all bundled up and ready to roll...
…for a minute, and then he fell fast asleep for the whole train trip.
Santa pays a visit to our train car!
Buggy and Mama cuddle in our seats to enjoy the beautiful view
Hattie loving the view and her first candy cane
When we arrived at the Christmas tree farm it was breathtaking. It had just stopped raining and the skies were magnificently clear. Love this shot I caught of my boys...
Everyone departing the train...
Oh yeah you're seeing it correctly! This farm had camel rides. Here's Butter, an A-list animal actor. Quite a resume!
And, here Liam, Stella and I taking advantage of the fact that this doesn't happen everyday
Hattie applauds proudly from the sidelines. She was too young to ride.
The kids love Butter! Wonder how he'd feel about joining our backyard farm ;)
I love this photo of a proud little sister watching from afar
Here's my gang on the pony rides
Even Hattie got in on the action this time!
Little Bear is cozy and sleepy at the farm
Let's get a tree!!
Amongst the bevvy of beautiful trees ready to find a family!
We found our tree. She's a beauty!
Stella being a tree hugger
Dad’s sawing down our new tree
Dad yelled "timber" as it fell
Daddy and his conquest
Now that's my manly man!!
Carrying his tree or pine wig?
Bro and sis playing on the verge of choking!
Looking for a 2nd smaller tree for the kids...
A pic in front of Christmas train before we head home…
Back on board and guess who's still sleeping?
Here's where they put everyone’s tree to get them back to the station safely!
Here we are on the way back… What an amazing experience to share with your family. Now the whole family has such an investment in the tree they worked so hard getting. Can't wait to get our trees home to decorate!!
Have you decorated your Christmas tree yet? If you have, upload pics to your profile page and leave the link in the comments below. I’d love to see how you’ve trimmed your tree!
Love,
T
44 comments
-
-
-
Wow, that place was MAGICAL!!! Could not believe the CAMELS!! That was a little unpredictable but well appreciated!! It looks like everyone had an AMAZING time!! I am just looking at these now!! I have been busy with the holiday Craze!! I did want to see this Christmas Tree hunt!! What a beautiful place!! Liam & Stella are getting so big & more Adorable than Ever!! They Loved their pony rides!! Hattie was so cute watching you from the side lines as you took your exquisite ride on the Camel!! Unbelievable!! Hattie & Finn are just so precious! They will be like Liam & Stella! Little buddies growing up! You couldn't have done it any better!!..What a GREAT pic you got of DEAN and Finn!! This year Dean cut the tree down!!.... I have to tell you as I was putting my tree up, I couldn't help but remembering the video you put on your site, of you sawing down the tree with Liam & Stella in the Tree Farm!! It made me smile & laugh! That was so cool & fun to watch!! You are an amazing woman girl!! So proud & happy for you! What a Gorgeous Family!! Have a Merry Christmas!! Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures!! What an amazing place!!.... And No, I don't think that Dean would go for the Camel in the back yard!! Ha! Xoxo -
What a beautiful place, and family! They grow up so fast....cherish every second. Merry Christmas.
-
-
This is such a wonderful picTORIal I think it is my ALL time FAV! What a beautiful family you have and what wonderful memories you are creating with them! We live in Tulsa, OK and ride an Old fashion Christmas Train every year it is one of our favorite things to do we look forward to going to the old cowboy town of Dry Gulch USA every year! This place looks amazing. It is now on my list of places to go!!! Thank you for sharing! -
Hi Tori!!!
I love that you and the gang went to a Christmas tree farm to cut down your tree for the holidays. I rememember doing the same thing when I was a kid with my family and loved it. Makes you really feel in the spirit and I bet the kiddos had a blast, especially the pony rides, too.
PS...it was so great meeting you at your holiday party last weekend at InVentori! You are so sweet and I am so glad that we had a chance to talk! I look forward to visiting the store again soon and hopefully bumping into you again:)
Happy Holidays to you and the family!
Love,
Renee -
What a fun family time! Merry Christmas to you and yours! http://torispelling.com/user/photo/3326589 -
Check out the very satisfied look in your husbands face, haha priceless! I think primal instincts got the better of him! Looks like a wonderful family outing, wouldn't it be fun to run a farm like that? -
-
That place looks fantastic and you got some awesome photos! I would love to take my kids next year. Here is our tree
http://torispelling.com/user/photo/3320801/smith-family-christmas-tree -
Wow...how fun!! We put our tree up the day after Thanksgiving!! Looking great, by the way!!
www.asweetbite.blogspot.com -
You have such a cute family!!!!! Your children are absolutely adorable!!!! And I must say Tori, you look FABULOUS!!!! I can't believe you had a baby less then 4 months ago :O!!!!!
-
Looks amazing! We love trains, it would be amazing to go on one.
Our tree:
http://torispelling.com/user/photo/3320280 -
-
Beautiful family! Sweet kids! Love the photos and I gotta point it out..... Baby Finn is looking more and more like tori, so cute. Look at those lips in pic 13, although he has deans eyes, pic 12. Looks like this place is a blast!
-
That looks like SO much fun! Your kids are so beautiful. Thank you for sharing with your fans. What wonderful Christmas memories you are creating for them. Magical. -
-
I LOVE reading about your beautiful family. The pictures of your family cutting down your Christmas tree are just wonderful. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas with your beautiful family!! :}
-
Wonderful pictures! I grew up in Santa Paula and have many fond memories of cutting down our Christmas tree there. -
This is our tree in Holland!
http://torispelling.com/user/photo/3318396/our-tree-in-holland -
What a beautiful family and such wonderful photos! Wishing the entire McDermott family and Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!
-
Love it! Here's our tree this year. Nothing too fancy, but it does the trick. You can see the whole tree by clicking the link in the photo details.
http://torispelling.com/user/photo/3318298
You can also see more of my Christmas decor here:
http://www.thecraftedsparrow.com/2012/12/christmas-entry-way.html
http://www.thecraftedsparrow.com/2012/12/nutcracker-christmas-mantle.html
http://www.thecraftedsparrow.com/2012/11/felt-advent-banner.html
http://www.thecraftedsparrow.com/2012/11/ruffled-christmas-tree-skirt.html -
My family had he same tradition, Christmas trees from tree farms! I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley, so we went to San Dimas. Now that I'm in my 30s, I'm so happy to have those memories!! My parents also had 17' ceilings, which warranted tree farm trees. Now that my husband & I live in a condo, Home Depot serves us fine. Hoping we'll have a newborn next Christmas to share the holiday!
http://torispelling.com/user/photo/3318170 -
What a beautiful family!! looks like a wonderful time and wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
xoxo,
Elizabeth
Join the Discussion!