Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Christmas Tree and Ornament Memories

I'm a few days behind schedule, but the tree is up and decorated!  I forgot to ask my husband to get it down from the attic before he left to go hunting last weekend.  Not wanting to wait until the weekend, Daughter #2 offered to help me this year and we got it up in record time.  Last night we put it up and tonight we added the lights and ornaments.  I have to say that I'm rather proud of myself this year.  Not for how lovely she looks, but that I relaxed enough to let Daughter #2 help me.  Typically I try to to let the girls help, but I really like it just so and it stresses me out.  This year I had a more laid back approach and I think it came out great!  This is our 13th year with this tree and it's still going strong.  I'd love to get another one that's not so fat, but as Daughter #2 pointed out, "where would we put all our ornaments?"!


A new pig that was added for me this year along with my hippo in honor of  "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" song.  Daughter #2s new sock monkey is peeking out from below.


My only gardening ornament that I absolutely adore given to me by an old friend.


My little girl, we brought these home from when my dad was stationed in Turkey.  Lots of memories come with her and she always gets a spot, front and center. 

I think my favorite part of putting up the tree is finding the perfect place for each of the special memories.  We have old mixed with new in an eclectic combination.  There are the favorites from Bob's childhood that his mother has passed down to him and the homemade ones that the girls have brought home over the years that we handle with care.  Each year, I add new ones for the girls and I'm always on the lookout for new pigs or anything else that catches my attention.  My mother always finds one for the girls that has significance for something they enjoyed that year as well.  This year, Daughter #1 is all about cupcakes and the Texas Longhorns.  Daughter #2 is still loving sock monkeys.  It's too much for one post, so I think over the next couple of weeks I'll share some of our favorite memories with you. 

Merry Christmas!
Mandy

5 comments:

  1. I am so glad that I got those ornaments of the girls when we were in Turkey. I have not been able to put mine on the tree. For I worry that the dog or the cat in years past would eat it. Your tree looks as lovely as always. I put our tree up yesterday and the lights. Now I will take my time in the next two days to get all the ornaments on. I just love sitting in the dark and enjoying the lights.

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  2. Mandy, that is a gorgeous tree! Aren't they magnificent when they are all lit up! And your ornaments are just darling. Cute piggies! I love looking at ornaments and remembering the story behind each one.

    ps. How lucky you are to live next to a decorated cow! :D

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  3. Love your gorgeous tree! I get more relaxed each day of my life (less anal) about things. It is a lot more fun...to let things happen as they will, instead of directing things or taking over. I say that, yet I still have tendencies to do that!!! I guess it is part of being a woman!!! So...are you a piggy collector in general, or just with ornaments?????

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  4. Thanks Bella, Julie and Mother! I'm a piggy collector in general. I have been since my grandmother brought me a little yellow piggy bank when I was a little girl. It's rolled over to the tree. I've got a pig tree that I'm going to share today!

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  5. Your tree is beautiful! I have my tree and decorations all up. Yeah! But I don't have all the ornaments on yet. I've been busy with my Xmas list and making my yummy nut mix called Kristmas Krak to give as gifts. I'm going to blog about it soon.

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