tree trimming traditions...

When we realized we had one free day in the middle of this crazy week we knew we couldn't let the chance to get our Christmas tree pass us by.  I told the kids and they were crazy excited.  In fact, the first words out of Landon's mouth when I picked him up from school were, "are we going to get our Christmas tree now?"

When I was a child my family would drive into the Santa Cruz mountains to a tree farm and cut down our tree.  My mom always brought homemade cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate that we would enjoy as we sat on the tailgate of my dad's truck.

I remember my dad first decorating the tree with a wonky light strand that was probably a pretty serious fire hazard.  But what I really remember were the ornaments.  Every one had a special meaning and I can recall the joy of pulling them out of the boxes and seeing them again each year.  There are a few ornaments that will always have a special place in my heart…Sledding Kermit the Frog, Peter Pan & Tinkerbell, Dumbo, the E.T. light-up ornament, Jiminy Cricket, Mary Poppins…they each remind me of my childhood.

My parents got my brother and I new ornaments every year.  Chris' parents did the same thing.  So when we got married Chris and I each had enough ornaments to fill our own tree.

Ashlyn and Landon have accumulated their own collection of special ornaments over the years.  Our tree trimming tradition generally starts with Chris and I pulling all the boxes out of the garage while the kids excitedly wait.  Chris will then hand out the ornaments one by one, or play "Santa" as his mom would say.

Jenny put tags in the boxes of most of Chris' ornaments.  They describe where the ornament came from and what year it was purchased.  This particular ornament's description told of a year when a missionary family was visiting the states and Chris donated this ornament to them so they would have ornaments to decorate their tree.

Landon still has a tendency to put all of his ornaments in the same place on the tree.  Sometimes all on the same branch.  I usually give him a little guidance just so none of his special ornaments get damaged in the decorating process.  

I love watching Ashlyn and Landon's excitement over their own ornaments.  I know that they will remember these special moments when they are grown.

Lastly, after all the ornaments have found their place among the branches, Chris places the Santa tree topper on the tree.  
I haven't had time to put up many of the other decorations yet, but I will.  Until then, we have our tree.  Our stockings are hung.  The kids are happy.

Happy Friday all!