Christmas Ornaments
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 7:10 AMJef's family has a wonderful tradition that I've come to love. Every year when he and his sister were growing up his mom would buy them an ornament that related to something they did that year. For example, the year Jef got his license he got a little car ornament. One year he broke his ankle and his ornament was a turtle with a cast. Things like that. When Jef moved out of the house his mom boxed up his ornaments and gave them to him so he would have something for his own tree. It amazes me every year when we unpack the ornaments. He has so many stories.
We've carried on the tradition, we pick up something whenever we travel that relates to our trip. And his mom continues to send us ornaments - last year she sent me one w/ little gardening tools and Jef got one with paint buckets and a ladder. I like that they all mean something, and maybe years from now we'll be talking about the ornaments we got this year. Although, I can't imaging talking about how we built the shed will be THAT exciting. Here are a few of my favorites:
Jef says a Teacher's Aid made this for him when he was in Kindergarden or 1st Grade. It looks like there wasn't enough room for the second "f" to fit on one line. It's ok, he didn't end up needing it anyway. 
Jef got this ornament when he was in High School and ran track. 
This is one of my favorites. Jef got this the year he turned 21! (The little platter has tiny beads on it that look like pretzels. So cute!) 
Jef's family spent a lot of time out on the water. This is a little person water skiing. Where does his mom get these?! 
We got this when we were in New Orleans for Jef's birthday this year. I don't even think it's an ornament, but it looks great on the tree. 
Reader Comments (2)
What a great story, and what cool ornaments! Is there a new addition for this year? I vote for the miniature shed.
what cool ornaments! I love them! I always feel the same way during the holidays - all of the ornaments that Jon and I have are ones that we have been given together through the years and a few that are from my childhood. I love the fact that there is a story for everything. So much fun!