our mini vacation

our mini vacation
view from the top of Jockey's Ridge

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

A little of our Christmas























So, here is some of our Christmas...tree above is my children's tree...it stands in our family room. When we added the family room onto our house, I really wanted the kids to have a tree of their own...one that had all homemade ornaments that would spark memories years from now....and with the exception of a few Christmas balls, all ornaments on this tree are handmade by the kids. Each year, the children make an ornament for this tree. When they were decorating it...yes, they did it all by themselves!, they would make remarks about remembering making this or that...and how young they looked in that picture!
Our living room is seeing a new Christmas tree this year...a white one. I really like it, and have never had a white tree before. It is very bright! I had to retire our old "monster" tree that use to stand in the living room. It was a huge pre-lit tree...and while it was new and ALL the lights were working, was very pretty....but, now half the lights are dead...I just could not wrestle that tree anymore...each year it left me battered and bruised! It was time for retirement!
See the pickle in the tree? It is an old German tradition for the pickle to be hidden among the Christmas tree branches....and the child that finds the pickle gets an extra goody for Christmas.
Our children have always done this tradition and yesterday was our official 'find the pickle day'. Everyone got a turn. Everyone got a goody. Everyone was happy! ;)
See my toy soldiers? I found those at a yard sale for $3!! My oldest daughter was given the job to repaint them...didn't she do a great job?!
The stocking by the mantle are my favorites....I love to just sit and look at them. At one time, that mantle was very lonely...only 2 stocking hung there...mine and my sweet husband. How my heart ached for a child, for that mantle to be full....and year after year, after year, after year...the mantle remained lonely....~but look at it now! Beautiful! ~with room for more!!
Ah....and way up there at the top...Mama Bear, with Papa Bear and all our baby bears!! If you are wondering where in the world I got that name "Mama Bear"...well, that is what my hubby calls me.....and I now wear it very proudly, MAMA Bear!
Yesterday, the family was out running errands...went to Target for a few things....and, when at Target, the kids like to get a drink and bag of popcorn for $1! I always manage to make my way over to Starbucks for my treat (that doesn't happen that often!) of a vanilla latte....anyway, when leaving, I told the ladies, "Merry Christmas"....at first they looked a little startled...then replied, "thank you, you don't hear that much anymore"....and I thought to myself..."no, you don't"...so, I have decided that when I go out now, I will always give a "Merry Christmas"....after all, isn't that what it is, a Merry Christmas?
Happy Birthday Jesus! You are the reason for this season!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Sissy! Love the WHITE tree! I got a white tree in my house too! love you! miss you!

Unknown said...

Love the family pic! You have a beautiful family! I love the family tree, too...great idea!

Ella said...

A lovely family dear.
Hugs, GG

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