Trimming the Tree

I'm one of those people who starts to feel melancholy about Christmas being over around...oh...December 1st. This being the case, we traditionally put up Christmas on Thanksgiving weekend as to get the most mileage possible. We started that Friday night after the tree lighting ceremony.



The Santa ornament pictured above is one of our most treasured possessions. Cliff's Grandma gave it to us. It was on her Christmas tree when she was a little girl and she gave it to us because she wanted our children to have it on their tree. I think she knew that sentimental stuff like that is not lost on me. Of all the wedding gifts I received, the most precious are a pendant which belonged to my grandma, and an old quilt that Cliff's grandma gave to us.

I am a bit of a Christmas ornament freak. I have a few ornament traditions...we usually try to make some new ones (but not always). We get a new Carlton Cards military ornament every year for the past 12 years or so. They have several, so we try to choose whatever one represents where we are that year (ship, helicopter, jet, etc.) or just whichever is our fave. I also get the kids an ornament if I can find one that relates. I don't have a one new ornament per kid per year rule or anything...that would just be too rigid for me. I usually find one or two a year that apply to particular children. We also try to buy a new ornament from any places where we've vacationed that year. Those are always fun memories to relive when we pull them out again and again.
















Some of my favorite ornaments are "Our First Christmas Together" and "Baby's First Christmas". We received a few of them and they are my favorite wedding or baby gift to give. Cliff likes this one in particular. The couple swings around arm in arm when you spin them. Cliff likes it because he says that's just what being married to me is like. =^)



Even Kitty gets in on the fun.



Now she's all tuckered out.



And Brownie? Well, she was beat just watching us. She made it this far and collapsed.



Luckily, I made enough cookies for the tree lighting ceremony that there were leftovers for us!

Merry Christmas!