Hope everyone has a blessed Christmas!!

from our house to yours!

As I was decorating the tree this year I became very nostalgic

as I pulled the ornaments out and began

decorating the tree.

And in full disclosure, I am a tree nazi. 

I can't tell you how hard it was to let the kids help

when they were younger. LOL.

After they went to bed I would take all the ornaments

they placed on one branch and spread them around.

If they noticed they never spoke of it and

it became our little secret.

As I pulled ornaments out it occurred to that

I have kept every handmade decoration my kidlets made throughout

their school years-and there is always a 

special place on the tree for them.

(I find it hard because I want them all to be front

and center LOL)

My grandmother had beautiful, vintage decorations that graced her trees

and she always loved her trees to look a special way.

At first her decorations passed to mom and then to me.

My mom was totally into Christmas ornaments and made sure

each of us had ornaments that had our names and of course the year

especially marking milestones in our lives.

I believe she single-handedly kept Hallmark in business.

I have not carried on that tradition because

it became uniquely hers.

As I placed each one on the tree it brought

back memories of my mom and gram,  

and how they both loved and celebrated the holiday.

It also brought back memories of those

Christmases when the kidlets were young and starry-eyed.