Here it is before we started to decorate. I love Christmas tree and the smell in the house is wonderful.
We turned on some Christmas music and one of our favorite Christmas traditions begins.
Brian and I always put on the lights and the bead garland first. Of course, the children all get out their ornaments. Each year, the children get at least one ornament from us. Oftentimes, they will get more from family and friends. Bessie and Gabe have quite a stash my now. This will be the Littles third Christmas with us, but they already have several each.
Once the lights and beads are on, everyone can begin hanging the ornaments. We try to keep some order, but with seven people working around the tree it can get a bit crazy.
Dan puts all his ornaments very close together. He is so cute and took great care in finding just the right branch to put his ornaments on.
Gabe is a more experienced tree trimmer. He spaces his ornaments out and makes sure there are no drooping branches.
Some of Bessie's ornaments are very fragile and quite lovely. She makes sure to place them higher up, out of harms way. She has also figured out that putting the glass ornaments closer to a light makes for more sparkle.
We couldn't remember who put the star on last year, so I put all the children's names on slips of paper and Brian drew one out. Gabe won the honors. (I just checked the blog and Bessie put the star on last year.) I'll need to make sure one of the Little's gets a turn next year.
This tree is smaller than last year's, but I think it came out very nice.
I enjoy decorating the tree each year, pulling out the ornaments and remembering where they came from and who might have given it to us. We have very old ornaments that came from my Grandmother and also a box of pretty glass ones from Brian's mom. There is the Little bunny that Sue cross-stitched for us and the star made out of Popsicle sticks with the picture of Meredith when she was maybe 5 or 6. She is 19 now. We have airplanes and lobster traps, a bird nest and a glass candy cane, Darth Vader and Hello Kitty.
I know many people have gorgeous theme trees, where everything goes together and all the colors match. Our tree is very eclectic but so full of memories and much joy. Each type of tree has its merit, but for now, with our house full of children, I guess we'll keep our mix-matched tree.
10 comments:
Lovely tree. We do much the same, with our eclectic mix of ornaments, so many with memories attached. Thanks for sharing.
BEAUTIFUL tree. We do the same thing... everyone puts their own ornaments on after Tim does the lights. Ours is also an eclectic mix of ornaments from throughout the years.
I love the mix! To me, it is so special to put those ornaments on the tree.
It looks like everyone had a really great time. Love all the ornaments.
Your tree looks lovely! It's a great shape. I couldn't find anything like that when we were out looking. That picture of Bessie hanging the ornaments in the semi-darkness is very atmospheric!
I decided, long before having children, to stick to red/white/gold and amazingly everything people have given us over the years (even without knowing) has fitted into that theme. {g} The ones the kids made when they were little, if there are any left which haven't disintigrated, they like to put on the trees in their rooms. They love having their own little trees!
Debbie, your tree was beautiful even before decorating! We are the same here, a huge mishmash of ornaments, everything from one that someone made from our wedding napkins(!), to photos of Holly glued to construction paper from daycare, to glitter glued to construction paper stars that Trevor made. Robert and I have always exchanged ornaments each year, and the kids also get one each. I try to write on each ornament box the giver/receiver of each ornament, along with the year.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Debbie. Your friendship is such a blessing to me.
Beautiful tree! The shape is wonderful, the lights and decorations are gorgeous. I loved the photos you caught of the kids hanging ornaments.
Very nice. As I read your blog I'm struck by the fact that you're a very good photographer.
I love the tree decorating photos, Debbie. It's so special to children to have their very own ornaments. Mine love it.
I had to laugh at your description of Dan. My Luke does the same thing-he takes such care to hang his ornaments all in just the right place, and they all fit into a tiny area on the tree. They're almost touching. lol. He's always done it that way and it really irks his brother. :)
What peaceful, beautiful photos.
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