Pine/blue Spruce Trees

Growing up, I remember an influx of the Blue Spruce and Pine Trees in this area, but year after year, they would increasingly get smaller in quantities as they were dying off. I remember this giant pine spruce tree in my backyard, that looked just like a pine tree, and one morning when we woke up, it had fallen down. It fell over thankfully facing away from the house so no damage was done, but this tree was pivotal to my childhood. I remember getting kites and balls stuck up in the top branches and the consistency of the tree being there. I know that my tree wasn't the only one to fall because of the fungus-like spores or the mountain pine beetles that took over each year.