Holiday Decorations

So I have a lot of Christmas tree decorations and I thought I'd tell you all about them.  As a child, my one grandmother would give her grandchildren a decoration as a present.  Also at my Catholic grade school, we would make ornaments (I think one has survived...).

As a young adult, my mother gave me decorations that she made through the years that she had amassed.  I was only too eager to accept and keep.  She then would make me an ornament a year throughout the rest of her life.

When she died in 1998, my sister and I divvied up the ornaments between us.  So yes, more of the same oldies but goodies and lots of surprises of what she created.  In 1999, my grandmother died (my mom's mom), and you guessed it.  More of my mother's created decorations!

My sister and I kept the tradition my mother started for the grandkids with a gift of  an ornament for each child.  We also gave each other ornaments along the many years.

Every holiday I went on, you guessed it.  I bought an ornament to remember those beach vacations, ocean breezes and I love when I unwrap one and remember good times.

My husband picks up an ornament every time he is in a new city.

We made ornaments with the children over the years.  My sister gives me a newly created ornament every year.....oh I could go on!

Now here comes the funny part.  About five years ago, I thinned out my ornaments!  I pulled out all of the ones that I had three or more and gave to each of my children.  My daughter and her husband have their bag of ornaments for their tree.  My son hasn't started the Christmas tree tradition yet but his bag of Christmas tree decorations are in a safe place.

So that's the short story of why I have so many ornaments.

On a side note, I have another Christmas tree in the living room and that is where all the ornaments the kids made are displayed.  Hand prints, Popsicle stick reindeer, strung beaded candy canes....