Hurray! We decorated our Christmas tree! It has been up for about a month, but we did officially wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate. I really didn't mind it being up and not decorated, I think that we must need more plants in our house because I really liked having a tree in the living room.
We usually get a permit and go with my family to cut down a Christmas tree but I was not going to travel anywhere without cell service being so close to our due date. So we got a fake tree this year, it's different but I really like it still.
Madison has had lots of fun decorating the tree this year, and as soon as all the ornaments were up - there were some taken down just so she could hang them up again. It's totally worth it because after every ornament she hangs she yells, "I did it!!!!" I don't think the tree has seen an hour of daylight without getting a makeover.
Some of our favorite ornaments that we have on our tree:
For 30 years of my life my Grandpa and Grandma had a tree downstairs and a tree upstairs. Their tree upstairs was covered in fake snow that we liked to peel off when we were younger because it felt cool. It was beautiful and covered in all of these miniature teddy bears. Last year they talked about these bears and announced that every time they received a new grandchild, they added a new bear. I never knew that's what the bears represented but I love it! They are only going to have one tree from now on so they gave each of us the bear that had our name written on the tag. Imagine all the love, and all the grandkids, that fill their lives if they were able to have a tree covered in bears to represent each one!
Both of these ornaments are for our first Christmas as a married couple. We do actually have one other, but I am not sure where it is at the moment... This is why I get multiples of things, in case one gets lost or broken ;).
This snowman is one of our homemade ornaments from last year. We actually made two of them as well just in case one breaks ;). Each part of the snowman's body is made from one of our thumbprints.
We also made ornaments out of Madi's hands and feet. I think they are her favorite ornaments this year. I asked her to put her hand and foot up to each one, just to see how much they have grown and now that's all she wants to do is hold them and measure herself against the ornaments.
Baby's First Christmas Ornament. I love the one with her photo in it. I think it's only going to get better and better to see that picture with each passing year. I already love it so much.
We have some other ornaments like "Our First House" ornament and some different ones from vacations we have been on, but these are definitely the most special ones to us. Here are the ornaments we made this year... Madison rocked at making her hand and feet ornaments, but then she wanted to play in the clay like play dough, and since that wasn't an option... she wasn't too excited to just put a thumbprint in the rest. Oh the two's. Love this age!
This year we did her cute hands and feet again. I know one day they are going to be too big to hang on the tree. I don't know what I will do when that day comes!
We made these cute gingerbread girls and an ornament using her thumbprints to create a heart.
And we made two ornaments with our family thumbprints (which we may have to make again if a particular child makes her entrance into the world before Christmas). A candy cane and then this one (pictured above). I didn't have any energy to be creative at this point. Mike said, "You're ready to be done aren't you?" I really was. Getting 8 thumbprints from a 2 year old is pretty dang hard when they aren't allowed to play with the clay like plaudough! I still love the ornaments though. What great memories we will always have of this Christmas!
We really love all the special ornaments on our tree this year. I told Mike one day that's all we will be able to fit on the tree is all of our special ornaments. I don't think he minds that one bit!
