Christmas Tree Permit

For the last 6 years we have cut down our own Christmas tree.  It's pretty entertaining.  In the beginning our friends would pick up our permit for us (thanks Erin and Brian) and we would cut our tree down in Idaho.  Then we got tired of driving all that way and needed to find something closer.  We learned quick that it was a lot more effort to get a permit here.  They hand them out about the first weekend in November.  You have to go to Soldier Hollow and they open their doors at 8am.  We had heard that the line is long so get there early.  Our first year trying it this way we showed up at 7 and we were at the end of a HUGE line, we were lucky to get one of the last permits that day.

Ever since then we haven't wanted to be last in line (in fact our goal is to get as close to the front of the line as we can).  So we get up at 4 am get the kids all bundled up (because you have to wait outside) drive to Midway and are in line by about 5:45.  Then we sit in the cold for 2hrs. until they open the doors and hand out permits.  We've got a system down now and it includes raspberry filled powdered doughnuts and a DVD player! This year we left Graham at Grandma Pam's so he wouldn't miss school and we just took Jonah.  We were in the first 1/4 of the line and were on our way home by 8:15 am.

This is a tiny portion of the line.  Jason is to the left of that pole in his blue jacket and red hat.
This is me all warm and snug and somewhat bleary eyed (I'm so not a morning or cold person and the only real reason I get up and bundled is because I would do anything for a raspberry filled powder doughnut)!
Jonah and Jason were watching Cars on the DVD player.  Jonah has his doughnut all over his face.


Jonah got a little chilly and wiggly so I took him for a walk and he made his way into the lodge.  I'm pretty sure we weren't supposed to be in there but I think they all felt bad for Jo and let us stay. So if anyone wants to join us next year the permits are $10 each.  Merry Christmas.