Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Top 5 favorite Christmas traditions - #5

On this post, I posted a meme that listed 3 things that I liked about myself. One item was the fact that I love traditions and have been successful in instilling these in my kids. Several of you commented that you were interested in knowing what these traditions were. Soooooo....

I decided to post on my Top 5 favorite Christmas traditions. However, I had no idea how hard it would be for me to pick the top 5!!! You see, I have LOTS of traditions. After much weeping and gnashing of teeth contemplation I have come up with my top 5 and am going to share them with you over the next couple of days!

I need to tell you one thing before I start.........think long and hard before you start a tradition. Think about whether you will want be able to keep up the tradition forever! You see, once you establish something as a tradition, your children will never let you stop.....even if you want to.....more on this later!!

Tradition #5 - Decorating the Christmas tree.

Since the kids were old enough to hang an ornament on a branch, we have worked to make this a "family event". Everyone participates in the decorating of the tree. The Christmas music comes on, the hot chocolate gets made and will all dig in!!

Okay I have been momentarily distracted from this post because my husband just walked in with flowers for me....for no reason!!!! I love that man!!!

Okay back to the post. First, some one is in charge of sorting the ornaments (everyone gets a new ornament each year and they need to be sorted by person). Then everyone places their own ornaments on the tree......of course these get the prominent spots!! Then we all put the rest of the ornaments on and lastly our tading (not sure about that spelling) snowflakes.

When done, we all sit back and admire our work, drink our hot chocolate and enjoy each other's company!

Now for the disclaimer: several years, we have had tears, fights, and slug fests as some people didn't like the locations of their ornaments................the kids had trouble sometimes too!! :)

These pictures were from last year....the kids are 18, 16 and 14!

of course as you sort, you get to remember how and when you got each ornament, laugh at old pictures on ornaments and get all excited when you find one you forgot about!!




Beautiful!!!
Can't wait to show my tree this year at Sara's on Dec. 15!


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6 comments:

Sara@iSass said...

You're so sneaky! Showing ornaments and the kids hanging em and then it's dark and all we can see is lights! Sneaky sneaky!
I love how they all reach for the top and look to be about the same height so there is no advantage! Hee hee. Good post. And random flowers! Lucky gal, it must be in honor of your sneaky wit!
Another thing I like that you posted: Will we want to continue a tradition forever and ever...GOOD point! I must now go weigh my options. Sneaky lady.

Jules from "The Roost" said...

I going to love reading about all your traditions. Now that my girls have all flown the nest it is just hubby and I putting the tree up. When the girls come home I here them telling their spouses about certain ornaments & what they mean to them. It does a mom's heart good :)

Rach@In His Hands said...

I can't wait to hear all of your traditions! This is a fun idea...I may need to try it out!
I just love decorating the tree...I can't wait for this year!

Anonymous said...

Our kids all have their own special ornaments too... but now I have a small dilemma. Now that they are getting married and starting their own families, I'm thinking I need to give them their ornaments for their tree so they can enjoy the happy memories in their new homes. But I admit I don't look forward to them leaving my tree. Is that like the children? You have to let go?

Jackie said...

I love how you make this a family event. Up until now I am the one that puts up the tree and does all the decorating, but I think that will change this year with Savannah being a little older. So excited to see your tree in a couple of weeks.

Rachel said...

We did the same thing in our family growing up. I have done it half way with my kids. We have not been entirely consistent getting them ornaments every year. My mom gave me all of "my" ornaments when Chad & I got married so my tree would not be bare that first year. I think I will do the same with my girls.

Wow! I did not realize that my picture would show up on your sidebar like that! It is very scary. I need to go type a new post right now so not everyone out there can see that picture!