The story of a tree.....

I believe every tree tells a story and our tree is no exception. Throughout the years our tree has worn several different 'cloaks' but the one constant has been the tale of 'us' it shares. From the time I was little, my folks created the tradition of giving my sister & I an ornament every year on Christmas Eve. Occasionally we were allowed to open one package that night too & often our ornament was over shadowed in the excitement of the holidays. Often our ornaments were parts of series that my Mom felt were reflective of our tastes and personalities at the time or sometimes were mementos of family vacations. Many of them are quite old, some are family antiques passed down from loved ones and all of them both old & new are priceless to me!

As I gaze at my tree tonight, certainly it is far from perfect! If it could speak, it would probably sigh & tell me that too many ornaments are clustered on its fragile lower branches, that the tinsel is itchy and the tree skirt too snug! It shows the many marks of being decorated and adored from a 6 year old girl, who alight with joy, has her own unique sense of design and presentation! :)

In response to our tree, I would gently tell her (him?) that while I can sympathize with its many complaints, I would not trade the bliss of sharing this yearly tradition that reaches all the way back to my most cherished memories, with my child. As we unwrap ornaments tucked carefully away each year, I am walked gently down memory lane.....remembering the ornament bought on a family trip to Myrtle Beach....remembering the first time we proudly hung our Precious Moments, "Our First Christmas" and later, "Baby's First Christmas" ornaments on our tree. Seeing my fledgling attempts at cursive handwriting on the old ornament boxes, proudly claiming them as my own. Remembering well the year we only hung ornaments on the top 1/2 of the tree to safeguard tiny, curious hands. Wondering what our tree will look like next year with another, "Baby's First Christmas" ornament hung on its branches....... this one in blue!

Yes, I believe that every tree has a story to share.......


Our main tree...a bit blurry ( sorry!) but the only one with Lexi posing!

Lauren's collection of ornaments has grown! We started this new tree for her last year!

This was Lauren's initial tree for her bedroom. She outgrew it, so now it sits on our landing.

The feather tree that matches my Mom's. We stalked these for weeks waiting for a sale!

Lauren's miniature tree. My Mom has decorated these trees and started this tradition for each grandchild. There is one waiting for baby Tyler in his nursery too!!

*** P.S. Okay, Martha Stewart I am not! LOL But I had a few requests to see the "trees". They are not all full sized, but each one represents something special to our family. BTW, I didn't want to show Tyler's tree, cuz the nursery is still not quite done! ( gotta get going on that!!) But I counted the two "mini" trees as one! :) Yes, I took some liberties!! :)