Ornament to Be

If you missed our post on Friday, head there now. It’s a good one about unique traditions to add to your Christmas. Today is also a tradition of sorts. Kat’s portion has been happening for years, but I started mine just a few years ago. I got the idea from my friends, Jody and Katy. Their family used to do this every year, and I don’t know why this stands out in my mind, but I feel like every time I’d see their tree, their brother had gotten a new Star Wars ornament-something I know ZERO about. I also have seen this idea on Momfessionals’ blog, and it’s a fun/easy one you could start too.

There’s really not much to explain, but every year I get our kids their own special ornament to add to the tree. The ornament is specific to them and relates to something that happened or something they did that year. Claire is four, and the twins are just 1 1/2, so we haven’t done this for very long, but I’ll share a few they’ve gotten.

Claire got this one in 2018. That year that girl was allllll about some rocks and acorns. That was all she wanted to do when we’d go outside…collect, gather, hoard. Since I couldn’t find a rock ornament, an acorn was the way to go.

Can you figure this one out? It’s kind of hard to understand what happened in 2019.

2020 was the year Claire became a “soccer rocker.” Those are her exact words.

2019 we got two new baby penguins in the family, so they got ornaments.

2020 was the year of the pacifier. Those broads climb to the top of the stairs every night to try and beat each other to get the million pacifiers that they’ve thrown on the carpet after their nap. It’s the cutest part of my day, and I wanted ornaments to remember it.

Kat
My best friend and I started the tradition a few years ago of including a Christmas ornament in our gifts to one another. I actually suggested it after another friend told me that she did it every year, and I have regretted/loved this tradition ever since.
I love it because the collection of eclectic ornaments from my oldest friend makes me smile. I hate it because in my mind it’s a competition that I always lose. Whitney ALWAYS out gifts me in this portion of Christmas. I have to tell myself it’s because I’m much quirkier than her, and she has a lot more to work with.

This is one of my favorites. Should I be embarrassed that by my love of yarn? Yes. Am I? No.

I’ve mentioned a time or two of my love of all things syrup, so when I received a glittery stack of pancakes, my heart went butter-patter.

I love I Love Lucy. I always have. I have multiple collector’s dolls. I own every season of the show on DVD, and have pondered more than once going to Jamestown, New York for the annual Lucy Festival. Anyone want to turn up some Vitameatavegamin and go with?

I also have a deep love of Home Alone. I actually went to a drive in theater last night and watched it while eating pizza in Hyundai Boo Boo. It was magical. Last year Caroline got me tickets to see the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra play the score live while the movie was playing. It, too, was magical. I think I need to find a unique way to watch Home Alone every year to be my jolliest self.

Let your tree tell a story. Even if that story is you love picking up acorns and knitting. Be proud of who you are. Or just simply commemorate the year.