Ornaments and Memories

Our tree has been up for about two weeks now.... I love decorating early!  December always seems so short and I want to enjoy the decorations, the music, the yummy food, and the spirit of the season for as long as I can each year.

Sarah and Phoebe were excited to help put our tree up.  Each time I mentioned it Phoebe would scream and squeal in excitement, and Sarah would smile and get super excited.  Eric and I put the lights and garland on then the girls got to help us put all the ornaments on.... It is so much fun to get the ornaments out each year and remember the story, person, place, and memory that goes along with each one.

Growing up, my parents got my siblings and I a new ornament each year that went along with something we were into, a place we had visited, or something that was special to us....  I am doing the same for my girls.  Sarah's ornament for this year is the Hershey's bar.  She LOVES chocolate.  Phoebe's ornament is the Elmo.  She likes Elmo, and had a Sesame Street and Elmo birthday party last month.

Here are two of my favorite ornaments that I have gotten within the last ten years... Coca-Cola and the Breyer Horse Stirrup ornament.  Breyer has a new Stirrup ornament each year.  This one happens to be the 2001 ornament.

I like to get Eric ornaments too.  He has several hunting, fishing, and construction ornaments on our tree.

Both of our girls have Pooh Bear ornaments from their first Christmas.  I have several Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ornaments.  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is my all time favorite kid's Christmas movie.  I looked forward to watching it every year as a kid growing up.  I like watching it with my girls now.

Of course we have Kansas State University ornaments on our tree. Go Wildcats!

This fun personalized ornament was made for us by my cousin's wife.  It has a special meaning because 2009 was our first Christmas together, in our new home, as a family with both of our girls. 

Another type of ornament and Christmas decoration that I like is anything with NOEL on it.  Noel is my middle name and one of my favorite Christmas songs is The First Noel. 

The first Noel the angel did say,

was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay:

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,

on a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

Born is the King of Israel.