Our wedding bell ornaments commemorate our wedding day.
Usually we have a fake tree I picked up the year before we were married, but this year I purchased a live tree. A pretty little Douglas fir. I love the smell!
I have a rule that there is no Christmas in our house until after Thanksgiving. So this week, on my husband’s days off, I sent him up to the attic to unpack Christmas and the first thing we did was set up the Christmas tree.
Everyone helps set up the tree. Usually that means putting in and fluffing up the Christmas tree branches. This year it meant unwrapping the tree bindings.
Only Mommy gets to hang up the Christmas tree lights. I think that just came from the fact that my mom always did the lights on our Christmas tree growing up. Now I get to torture my own children by making them watch impatiently while I do the lights. Ha! I wonder if they will torture their own children in the same way.
Evan's handprint from preschool craft day - a great memory for him to have.
The ornaments on our tree are not fancy-schmancy or matchy-matchy ornaments. They are a huge mix of Christmas ornaments gathered from memorable locations and events of our lives. Each year has at least one ornament – often representing something from that year. A trip we took. A baby born. A hobby. A new job. A passion. A gift.
My kids love to ask – What does this ornament stand for? Who’s ornament is this one? What does this ornament mean?
And one day, when they create their own families, we’ll be able to pack up a box of their ornaments. Send them on their way with a box full of tangible memories, confident they won’t suffer the horror of an empty and sparse tree.
I know that these memories will last a lifetime for my children. I hope that the traditions that we establish – even small little things like a special ornament each year – will give them a sense of family and togetherness.
Now I’d love to know, how do you spread real cheer with your holiday decorating? Show me with your photos! Click “Add me” in the Cheer Tree below to upload your holiday decorating photos and share them with your Twitter followers and Facebook friends. Be sure to click on “Special Offers” to unwrap the hidden coupons and deals exclusively from Sears. Keep checking throughout the holidays–new deals are unlocked every day! For all your holiday decorating needs and solutions, don’t forget to visit Sears and discover real deals, real cheer!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sears. The opinions and text are all mine.
