December 5, 2012
By Sebastian Moraga
For nine years, the McLauchlin family has had a tradition.
For 21 years, the Prewitt family has held onto the same tradition. And a tradition within that tradition. And a tradition within that, too.
For almost a decade, the McLauchlins have purchased their Christmas tree in the same place, the nonprofit tree lot run by the Snoqualmie Valley Venture Crew.
?Same time every year. We have our lights, and our tree and our Christmas decoration the first week in December,? Bob McLauchlin said. ?Just kind of a tradition.?
Contributed
This family tree at the McLauchlins? home was picked out by daughter Abigail. Valley families make a tradition not just of Christmas but of getting ready for Christmas, as well.
The McLauchlins, Bob said, are pretty picky when picking their tree. It has to be just right.
?Hard to describe the look,? he said, ?but we kind of know it when we see it.?
The one to make the call is Abigail, his daughter.
?She says, ?That?s the one we are getting,?? Bob said. ?She picked a good one.?
Kathi Prewitt?s family picks a good one, too. Four times over.
Every year, mom Prewitt said, they buy two for themselves, one for Grandma and one for Kathi?s brother Jim.
?It?s a bit of a family affair,? said Kathi, mayor pro-tem of Snoqualmie. She gets to decorate one tree, her daughters get the other.
That?s been, she said, the tradition since her oldest daughter Tricia was 4. She is a junior at Montana State University now. Her youngest, Elizabeth, is a sophomore at Mount Si High School.
Mom?s tree gets ornaments from all of the family?s trips: Leavenworth, Oregon, Alaska, Italy, France, as well as family milestones, like when the girls were born.
?It?s become a tradition that where you unpack all the ornaments, you can reminisce on all the travels you?ve been on,? Prewitt said.
If the house flooded, Prewitt said, she could not pick just one of her ornaments to save.
?It would be tough,? she said. ?I would want to grab the whole box.?
The daughters? tree gets the ornaments they have made over the years.
Again, a chance to reminisce, even if the ornaments are not as fancy, or in as good shape. Back when they were little, half of the lights on the girls? tree did not blink and half did.
?My kids tease me,? Prewitt said, ?but I do like Christmas a certain way.?
Uncle Jim?s tree also looks a certain way, and has for 20 years. The Prewitt girls decorate it for their bachelor uncle.
?It?s become a family tradition,? Prewitt said. ?My sister and her kids and my kids and Mom is there and we put it up for him. It?s been 20 years, and the kids get a kick out of it.?
The Venture Crew?s nature as a youth-fueled nonprofit is a big part of the equation.
?One of the reasons we continue to buy from the same place, it goes to the Venture Crew,? Prewitt said. ?It?s a great organization that has served the Valley for many years. It keeps our local youth doing something positive with their lives.?
She then added, ?I get the benefit of having gorgeous trees and the house smelling great. I also get to help a wonderful organization.?
With college looming ahead for the younger Prewitt girl, a big decision awaits. Stick with two trees or downsize to one.
?I don?t suspect they will let me get away without decorating a second tree,? Prewitt said. ?I might decorate it the way I want it, though.?
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Sebastian Moraga: 392-6434, ext. 221, or smoraga@snovalleystar.com.
Written by Sebastian Moraga ? Filed Under Local News?
Copyright 2010 by Issaquah Press Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed without permission. E-mail editor@isspress.com
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Source: http://snovalleystar.com/2012/12/05/family-tree-traditions-abound
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