Favorite Christmas Ornaments
I have been sitting here for over an hour, contemplating what to write about today. Multiple things have crossed my mind.
- Christmas traditions in the family
- Cute photos of children during the holiday
- Funny things children say about Christmas
- Favorite family holiday recipes
But my mind keeps returning to what is most meaningful to me… and that is our Christmas decorations. As I searched my photos for the one photo I had in mind, I had the feeling of deja vu….Had I written about this before? A search of my blog told that I had….
From my blog: December 22, 2015
I think we probably all have our favorite Christmas tree decorations. Each year my husband and I buy (or make) an ornament that represents something special that happened to us during that year. We have ornaments from countries we have visited, and cast footprints of our grandchildren when they were born. We have ornaments to celebrate special achievements, such as the completion of my husband’s first marathon. We also have ornaments that were gifts from friends or family. But the absolutely-most-treasured ornaments are the ones that our children made for us when they were young.
I’m known for wanting to retell the story of every ornament as it goes on the tree. You know… the how / why / when / where of it all. When our children were at home with us, they would occasionally roll their eyes during my recitations; but I think they enjoyed it more than they let us know.
This year, when we were decorating the tree, our 35-year old son was here. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a smile cross his face when I placed this ornament on the tree. The ornament he made for me when he was 8 years old. The ornament that has graced our tree every year since that time.
Hallmark, Spode, Lenox… .. you have nothing over a piece of an egg carton, tin foil, red satin ribbon, and the hands of my son when he was 8 years old.
…..end of 2015 post…..
We will be going to our son’s house to visit soon. I have gathered together paper, scissors, glue, felt, pom-poms, Popsicle sticks and various other craft items. Owen and I are going to make ornaments.
I hope 25 or 30 years from now, Brian and Melissa will still be hanging Owen’s creations on their tree. I hope they will look at them and smile; recalling Owen as the 3-year-old little boy he is today…. full of Christmas wonder and delight, just as we remember Brian at that age.
We have a tree!
Helping Daddy put the tree on the stand.
Unable to contain his excitement, Brian finds expression in jumping on the couch.
Brian finds a leftover branch and makes his “own” Christmas tree.
Owen, last night:
Comments (3)
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Precious memories!
Oh I love this article (your story). I like the egg carton decoration and think that may be a cool thing for me to do for Jack’s Christmas money tree. He still has the first money tree I made him for 2014 Christmas with the $50 still decorating it. He can’t bear to take it off so he keeps it in his bedroom. He’s such a sweetie. He did take his money off last year’s tree. He’s saving his money for a 3D printer and all that goes along with it. His mother and father do not like computers; they said they have to use them at work but when they come home they don’t want to see any around. Both kids have computers and printers at my home in the computer room but just the HP Photosmart printers, and I got both of them the 0″ or 10″ iPads that they don’t want to put down and their parents want to kick my behind. Now I must say those very parents sure do love their kids having them when they are traveling long distances. Kids need to be computer savvy these days.
Thank you, Carol, and you are right. Kids to need to be computer savvy these days. I understand it can be hard to keep a proper balance though! So sweet of Jack to appreciate you and all you do for him so very much!