really?
already?
oh boy.
i am not sure if i am ready….maybe today is the day to get moving.
we did get our tree up.
since we have a fake tree it's pretty easy to just get it out and put it up….no cold weather to fight or finding the perfect tree. (i didn't get out the tree so i can't technically say it's easy…but i tlooks easy)
i let the kids do ALL the ornaments.
i gave in last year and realized it was the best idea… they are able and i can relax.
no ornaments broke this year!
we start with the family ornaments first….all different random ornaments i have collected since i got married.
scott was at the gym and lauren was dying her hair…but three is plenty to decorate a tree.
after the family box is empty then they get to put on their OWN special ornaments.
i keep each child's ornaments in their own box.
every year i pick out an ornament for them that represents something that happened that year
or something they would like.
and then we keep them seperate from the family ornaments.
it's very special to them to hang their own special ones themselves.
craig made a fire in the fireplace and we all sat ont he couch and watched ELF.
(sean and i recited this entire scene over breakfast today)
………………………………………..
this year our family ornament is from lisa leonard's shop.
it's so pretty.
i chose the star ornament for us.
they are lovely keepsakes.
and make wonderful gifts for friends and family.
she has a heart and a stocking ornament also.
Use the code: ornament2011 for 10% your order
(also….all of her jewelry would make ANY lady on your christmas list very happy… go find something)
Steel Building - This Christmas tree id looking so beautiful. Your blog more beautiful blog as well as like to visit here again for new designs of suits on this Christmas.
code reduction - Christmas are coming and these all Christmas decoration idea is great. It such an excellent . I love to celebrate Christmas.
Heidi Jo the Artist - December sure is whizzing by! Looks like the kids had fun!
Debby Graber - Al’s mom and I both gave our kids ornaments every year. Then when they had their showers before they got married, I gave them their box to go with them to their new home. Now I am buying my grandchildren their ornaments. Allen and I still get an ornament every year – one from someplace we’ve gone that year (like Dauhpin Island this year) or from something that happened (like a squirrel ornament the year the Webers put a dead squirrel in a frying pan on our front porch! You’ll have to ask me about that sometime)
imovie succedaneum on windows - Awesome .. I’m working all weekend, but I enjoy every minute of it. I would love to see the excitement on the faces of my girls when they get home.
Sarah - Love Elf!
Side Note: Did you see the Fiesta Masquerade flatware at Kohls (other places sell it too)? It has your name on it!
Southern Gal - We love Elf! My son and I quote it all the time. Our favorite? “You stink. You smell like beef and cheese. You don’t smell like Santa.” Ha!
We bought ornaments for all our kids to take with them when they got married. Guess what? The oldest didn’t take hers when she moved away. Only a few. I guess I’ll have them forever.
tami - Wow, I still have NO tree up yet, hate doing it lol. Love yours!
karen - i love that tradition you have! i will have to start that with mine.
that star ornament is lovely.
Jennifer S. - What a great tradition. I love Elf!! Watch it several times during the season and still laugh out loud throughout!! Have it recording on the DVR right now π
Toni :O) - My kids have their own boxes of ornaments as well…it’s awesome! When they move out, they have their own collection of ornaments to decorate their own tree with! Um, is it just me or is the 2011 backwards or is it the camera that did that?
Marla - My mom got us an ornament every year and when we got married she packed them all up in a box and wrote this very cute precious poem about leaving home and having our own tree and gave us our ornaments to start our own tree.
Kori - We LOVE Elf!! It’s our Christmas movie. Sooooo funny…his first time on the escalator? Hysterical to me every. single. time. And the cotton balls? Oh my. π
kamana - lovely tree, and looks like your little ones are having the greatest time putting up decorations
Valerie@Chateaualamode.typepad.com - Meg, love the tree!!!! Elf is one of my fave Christmas movies. We saw it a couple of nights ago. I like the “Smiling” line….”I love smiling….smiling makes me happy” π
Maureen - Sounds like somebody is a crabby elf…
Lena - I SO hate fake trees. And I SO hate all the Christmas decorations already up the first day of December…where’s the original spirit in that? π I followed this blog quietly for so long now, it’s kind of sad that the first comment I feel like having to write is a negative one XD Fake Christmas Trees make me sick. Honestly. π
Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - This year Im holding out for the first real tree we’ve ever had(in 10 yrs of marriage). I cant even explain why I want real; I just do. Ive got my silver/bling tree up in the diningroom(fake) but only real will do for our main tree this year. On a sidenote, I love the size of your tree. Maybe thats my problem: the two fake ones we have are skinny trees and look anorexic to me.
Both sides of our family have bought us each an ornament every year for ages so we have lots of ornaments. I like the separate box idea. Ive just carefully separated the girls out into baggies but obviously that doesnt protect them well.
tara pollard pakosta - that’s so funny I do the exact same thing with my kids having their own box of ornaments and then the family box!
AND they decorated it by themselves this year too!
yay! it was pERFECT!
tara
pam - ahhh!! my kids were just whining a bit about no Christmas tree this year. they said in this heat it won’t even feel like Christmas! π but they are listening to Christmas music.
i agree…any of her jewelry is a fabulous gift…loving the two necklaces I have from two of my favorite people. π
so good to hear your voice today.
mel @ the larson lingo - a FAKE TREE?!?! For shame! π just teasing.
I need to get boxes for my girls’ individual ornaments….I have them in our main box, but individual boxes is a much better idea. On my to-do list!
Jack - I love the ornament box idea too! Definitely going to start that this year!
Tanya H - We are the opposite! π I let them put their own ornaments on first, and then fill the rest of the space with ornaments that must be technically mine… Every year til now my mom and my grandmother send ornaments for each kid, and my great aunt who gave me one every year has given my kids several for the last few years. I have debated letting them choose one from the store for this year…or not. Our tree is small and full! π
Sherry - I LOVE your ornament box idea. My kids are still young, so its not too late to start. Thanks for the great idea!!
Suzy - I let the girls decorate our tree this year too. It was a nice change and they loved it. We have special family ornaments and each of my three girls have their own special ornaments too. What a great idea to give each child a box instead of the mishmash that greets us when we open the Christmas bins! I’m pinning this for when the tree comes down and the ornaments are put away.
Sarah - “You sit on a throne of lies…” Ha ha! That cracks me up – I love the part where he burps a reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally loud and long burp and then asks, “Did you guys hear that?!” So funny.
Kari - great idea about the kids each having their own box -i’m going to have to do that…. we have 2 small trees and want to get a third so each child has their own tree π
Cindy - We do the same thing. But we do that because my mom did that. And what’s so cool is that she has given each of us our childhood ornaments that she got us each year. So now, MY ornaments hang along with our family and each of our kids’ornaments from each year. Then one day, I’ll send my kids off with their for their homes when they are grown and married. Great tradition!
TinaM. - bokeh makes me smile !!!!!
casey - Love the organization! What a great ideas! We haven’t had a tree in YEARS and no I think we need one! Thanks alot… (c: By the way, can I move in to your house? Your family seems so AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ashlyn@Pinecone - I have got to get rolling too!! We have started some crafting, my paperwhites are already blooming, (way too early I might add) took the pic for Christmas cards but haven’t figured out where I’m ordering them from – but…we haven’t done the tree or any outside decorating, so I guess we better get on it this weekend.
We haven’t watched Elf yet – but we did watch The Family Stone last weekend LOVE that movie for the holidays. Just the right amount of disfunction π xo
Sue - Thankful to have found your blog. Love the photos, the craftiness, and your love for Jesus. Look forward to reading more!
Kayla - You smell like beef and cheese! We only broke one ornament this year….we are making progress!
Jodi - We have a fake tree too, prelit and everything! and as of right now, two lonely ornaments are adorning it… I was really hoping and praying that Christen would want to help trim the tree, but so far… she’s 17 and too cool for that. ;o)
we LOVE Elf, it’s a must watch at Christmas time. It’s one of the few movies I can watch over and over again… smiling, smiling’s my favorite!
Wendy - I like your fake tree. If you got it at a chain store – please share where and what size. Thanks π
Holly - I think we will put our tree up this weekend after we finish some projects around our house! we are in construction mode for sure!
seriously sassy mama - I have three girls, and each year each girl gets to pick out a new ornamnent. I pick on out also. I am going to need a bigger tree one of these days. My sister and can do the mockingbird song from Dunb and Dumber.
Terrie - Love seeing your decorations for your tree…maybe it will motivate me to get started!
I love buying my kiddos an ornament for every year.
The tree looks empty when your kids get married and take their ornaments. π
Loving the family ornament!!
HaPpY HoliDay Preparations!!
Jennifer - Such a fun time of year! You are a wise mama, Meg, to let the kids go ahead and do their own thing with the ornaments. I need to do that with my son–I micromanage the hanging of ornaments a little too much at my house. π I think I’ll try your approach this year and see how it goes.
That seen from Elf is so funny….I LOVE that movie. We already pulled it out and watched it this week…and will most likely watch it many more times before December is over.
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
elisabeth (bovagoods) - i really need to get some boxes like that to put the girls’ ornaments in. yours look like really nice boxes. are they photo boxes?
amanda - we do the exact same thing – family ornaments first then each kid has a box of their own ornaments that they get to hang themselves and i buy them a new ornament every year. such a fun tradition!