The Great Ornament Chronicles: A Christmas Tradition with Twists and Turns
Ah, it's Christmas time! The air is filled with gingerbread scents, carols that keep playing on repeat, and the joyful sounds of my teen twins, who are now intricate humans instead of the little munchkins who used to believe they could outsmart Santa. This year, instead of cramming our tree with Disney movie ornaments (the ones that the cats decided were more like toys than decorations), we've embarked on a new ornament adventure!
You see after our feline friends turned our once-glorious Disney tree into a makeshift jungle gym—resulting in shattered glass and the birth of a new cat toy line—I decided it was time for a change. Sure, we have those precious ornaments we received after the twins were born, plus all the adorable art pieces they created while attempting to master "glue" in school. These masterpieces ARE our tree.
But this year, we kicked it up a notch. When you have a photographer at your kids' sweet 16 (cue the tears and cringe-inducing memories of diapers), you suddenly have a bounty of photos! So, we came up with a bright idea: make picture ornaments! Thank you, Dollar Tree, Temu, Michaels, and Shutterfly! Who knew our household could become a DIY Christmas explosion? You can customize family PJs (because nothing screams 'holiday spirit' like coordinating sleepwear)!
To celebrate the last 16+ years and honor the memories of loved ones who are no longer with us, we created a candy cane vine that stretches across the vaulted ceiling of our home. Yes, I now fully recognize my life choices have led to moments of "how did I get here?" but it was all worth it when I hung those cherished photos—snaps from their dad's childhood and moments of love from my dad, whom we miss dearly.
The result? A beautiful tapestry of our lives that hangs above us, reminding us of every coffee-fueled midnight scramble, every holiday melt-down, and every memory we cherish. People are loving it! Some friends have even snagged our idea and added it to their traditions. One delightful reader shared that they host an ornament swap for their Thanksgiving celebrations. They do it secret Santa-style—exchanging ornaments that they feel embody the essence of their chosen person. Like my photo ornaments, it's a way to encapsulate stories, warmth, and laughter into something tangible!
So, how about you? What tales do your ornaments tell? I'd love to hear! Whether you have a tree of memories, quirky treasures, or wild stories behind your decorations, please find me on Facebook and share your holiday ornament saga. Let's embrace the chaos, the love, and all the perfectly imperfect moments. After all, this season is all about storytelling, connection, and finding the joy in the twinkling lights and the warm laughter of being together! 🌟🎄
