I believe one of my favorite things about the holidays is all the gorgeous decorations. I love the lights, the velvety ribbons, the sparkling baubles gleaming at every turn. I so admire those talented folks able to turn their trees into designer-inspired works of art. But those of you who know me, know all too well that I’m just plain old me. And our family’s tree doesn’t quite fall into the “carefully decorated” category. We don’t have a perfect, color-coordinated decoration that’s suitable to grace the cover of a magazine. Our delightfully chaotic tree is all about the memories.
Hubby and I have been together forever. This is our thirty-first Christmas shared and we’ve collected a dated ornament for every year. You’ll also see a U.S. Air Force ornament commemorating the years he served our country.
Look a little closer and you’ll see the wonderful ornaments my granddaughter made. Those ornaments are more precious to me than all the gold in the world.
There’s also ornaments both daughters made. Their creativity makes me laugh. She told me the word “earth” was too long for the ornament –so she improvised.
Every time I look at that tree, I relive the happy times, hear the laughter, feel the warmth and love of all the Christmas’s past. So, looking back on this post, maybe it’s not the actual decorations that bring me such joy –maybe it’s just the loving memories they trigger. *Sigh*
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beautiful tree... ours won't be going up this year because we have a new puppy....:(
ReplyDeleteOh but new puppies are SO delightful, Dominique! They're a furry bundle of love on four speedy paws. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteIt's all about family and always will be. My dear grandmother used to sit with me on a wooden bench swing underneath two apple trees. We would sit and chat for hours. I loved hearing her stories of long ago. When the dh and I got married, she bought me a Christmas ornament of a boy and girl chipmunk sitting on a bench swing. Every year I hang it upon my tree and think of my wonderful grandmother and how much I miss her. It warms my heart. Just like your post.
ReplyDeleteAwww...thank you, Victoria. I'm glad you enjoyed my post and I'm honored that you shared the lovely memory of your grandmother. She sounds like she was a wonderful lady.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tree Maeve. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jeannene. We love all the memories it holds. :-)
ReplyDeleteHubby and I have the same tradition every year. The day after Thanksgiving, the kids decorate the Christmas tree. This year the kids, my grandchild, and my sons-in-law came over and decorated the tree. After all this time they still look forward to it. And yes, we too have paper and styrofoam ornaments that were made while they were in grade school. And tell your husband thank you for all that he's done while serving our country.
ReplyDeleteHi Maeve! My tree looks a lot like yours. :) Many home-made ornaments from the kids as well as ones we've picked up on our travels. My parents' tree looks the same, they still have the home-made ornaments my sisters and I made as kids. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat blog post!
Love your tree pix, Maeve. My kids are 33 and 29 and I still put "ornaments" they made in nursery school on the tree, right beside my silver and Beleek. We gather Christmas ornaments on trips during the year, so we have streetcars from San Francisco, tiny wine bottles from the Finger Lakes, and shells from the Bahamas among our tree treasures. Love those lights and don't care how many plastic dolls are up on the neighbors' lawns: it's our "inside the house" stuff that does it for me.
ReplyDeleteGreat looking tree! And yes, our ornaments bring back the memories as well, which makes the holiday!
ReplyDeleteThanks Alexa! I feel so lucky to be blessed with such great holiday memories. They're the best gifts I've ever received. :-)
ReplyDeleteWell said, Pat. That's exactly how I feel. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think when a parent or a grandparent hangs on to those precious homemade crafts made so long ago, it makes the child feel truly appreciated. Don't you, Rebecca? Our trees are kind of like an ancestral showcase. :-)
ReplyDeleteYour decorating traditions sound like wonderful family time, Shawn. And my husband ducked his head and smiled when I relayed your kind words of thanks to him. It meant a lot, trust me. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWell, Mauve, you and I alike. I love memories adorning trees. I gave away the store bought balls I had from years ago because my memory trinks finally covered the whole tree.
ReplyDeleteI think they are the best!
31 years!!! Truly Maeve, what is your secret? Wishing you both another 31 years and many more memories to be added to the tree.
ReplyDelete*sniff sniff - off to find a tissue* ;-)
Thank you so very much! I don't know what the secret to 31 years is - it seems like we just met yesterday. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we're like-minded, Autumn. We'll always love our memory trees!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love the tree. The ornaments are perfect. 31 years! Wow! That really is a lot of wonderful memories!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Taryn. After 31 years, it takes both of us to keep all the memories straight. LOL!
ReplyDeleteHi Maeve,
ReplyDeleteI love your tree, it was decorated from the heart, and it shows.
regards
Margaret
Your tree is gorgeous. We do the same thing. Always have. While hubby and I haven't been together quite as long as you and yours, we have some pretty special ornaments.
ReplyDeleteMy parents still have the ornaments that I and my siblings made in school. It's awesome.
Thanks for sharing your tree.
Thank you, Margaret. Our tree definitely "feels" like it has heart.
ReplyDelete:-)
Isn't it great to have a memory tree, Riley? It's as though each ornament is a magical token spelled to evoke memories when it's pulled from it's box.
ReplyDeleteLovely, Maeve--I think your tree is gorgeous, chaotic and all. And yes, anything our grandchildren give us are treasures. Christmas is a magical time--for adults as well as children. I wish you a Very Merry Chrismas--and a Happy New Year for all of us!Celia
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too, Celia! :-)
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Maeve! I spent most of yesterday decorating the house for Christmas - all except the tree, as this year we're going "real" instead of the artificial tree we've had for the last ten years or so (my daughter's idea).
ReplyDeleteI also buy a new ornament each year, dated if possible. I started the tradition in high school, and see no reason not to continue. There's the one from our first house, our first Christmas as a married couple, and "First Christmas" ornaments for our kids, now 11 and 14. It's become a family joke: every time we go somewhere on vacation, I have to buy an ornament. My two favorites (at least for now) are the tiny Beatrix Potter hedgehog ornament bought in London, and the wooden Claddagh bought in Dublin in 2009.
Wishing you peace, joy and love this Christmas!
I LOVE real trees, Cynthia. Their fragrance is the epitomy of Christmas. I wish we could have one but unfortunately, I'm allergic to them so, it's the artificial trees for us. Your ornaments sound delightful. I must admit - I'm a Beatrix Potter fan, myself. :-)
ReplyDeleteI am from Vermont, if it ain't a real tree, keep it.
ReplyDeleteI love the memories on your tree. Same with mine!
A family after my own heart!
I think the real trees are SO gorgeous. Unfortunately, if we bring one in the house, I can't breathe within the hour. But you are so right, Mary - the memories are so wonderful.
ReplyDeleteJust the way a tree should be ... all about the family. Who wants a decorator tree--not me. Thanks lots for sharing your memories with us.
ReplyDeleteThe decorator trees are pretty - but they just wouldn't "fit in" in my house! Thanks for stopping by, Marsha. :-)
ReplyDeleteLove the decorations Maeve! Our tree is exactly the same, filled with decorations collected over the 33 years hubby and I have been married. I started collecting ornaments for the kids to put on their trees when they were infants! And the ornaments they handmade for me are among the most precious.
ReplyDeleteOur "memory" trees are so special, Cate. I hope this Christmas adds wonderful memories to everyone's decorations. :-)
ReplyDeleteYours is the best kind of Christmas tree, Maeve. I'll bet you always feel a little sad when it's time to take it down again. Wishing you and yours a most wonderful Christmas.
ReplyDeleteLeigh
Thank you, Leigh. Merry Christmas & a healthy & happy New Year to you and yours as well. :-)
ReplyDeleteAww Maeve that really touched my heart. Thank you for sharing your very special Christmas tradition with all of us. Merry Christmas to you and your and very Happy New Year
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year to you too, Lizzie! :-)
ReplyDeleteLovely, thanks for sharing these. They are perfect. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you too, Becca! And a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year as well.
ReplyDelete:-)