Did you hear that my dream is to one day own a tree farm? Going to the tree farm every year is easily our favorite family activity of the year. I was talking to a cousin last week and we both agreed the experience we had as children playing in the frozen creek, riding the hayride out to the fields, playing hide n’ seek between trees around the property (the secret to winning is building a team and having walkie talkies guys), excited to come across Grandma who had a bag full of fresh baked cookies (peanut butter with a hershey’s chocolate in the center or buckeye’s are my favorite, just in case you’re in the baking mood, wink) and gold fish crackers in individual bags for all 18 grandkids. We’d watch our Dad’s cut down the perfectly shaped pine tree and try to soak up as much of that invigorating scent as possible before heading back to the lodge to warm up next to the fire place, grab a cup of hot cocoa that was handed out by the same sweet old woman my entire life, search for the perfect ornament and grab one of Pea Ridge Tree Farms annual pewter ornaments to put on our new tree. Driving back we’d always stop at the ostrich farm down the road to grab some jerkey and because we were customers for the long haul, he’d always add in some elk jerkey from his personal stash. We’d dine at the Hawthorn Inn in Labadie aka my most preferred restaurant ever and head home to decorate.

This tradition has stayed alive throughout my adult years and has since been continued with our own little family. Cole looks forward to taking the trip out to the farm, searching for what is really only a minute or two. Because in Wisconsin we have the best pine trees ever. He runs through the trees, always having to be lifted up to the top to pretend he’s putting the star on top. I don’t even know how this started, but it’s become a thing. At Whispering Pines you can ride Thomas, Percy, James (you know the infamous Sodor Trains) or a horse drawn carriage to and from the fields. Follow your experience up with shopping in their lodge, get your photo with Santa Claus, sip on some apple cider, shop around for a natural wreath and the perfect ornament for your tree. We absolutely adore this time we have together and building these memories with our little man. If you’d love to continue reading, see our experience at Aissen (our other favorite tree farm) last year.

We are the Helgesons and this was our trip to Whispering Pines Tree Farm in Oconto, Wisconsin, our favorite holiday tradition. Thank you for being here to share our story and our lives with. Send us a note below and share the Holiday tradition you adore most each and every year with your family.

Happy Holidays!!

-The Helgesons-