Wednesday, December 12, 2007

spt -- ornamental

For one reason or another, I have been missing in action with spt lately. I decided to jump back in this week -- even though I am late -- or who knows how long I will let it slide? (Besides, this one was just too easy!)

I don't have any ornaments from my childhood. I don't really have any sentimental ornaments at all, actually. My mom was always creating new trees when I was growing up, often including some artsy element such as pussy willow branches, etc. that I was not sophisticated enough to appreciate. As I got older and saw Christmas trees in stores and magazines, I realized that she was, as usual, ahead of her time.

When Marc and I got married, we had fun with our trees. We would make ornaments for them, and we changed them up frequently. We had an all white tree, a silver tree, a cookie tree... Several years ago I told my mom I wanted a sugared-fruit tree. She sent me many boxes of ornaments! It makes a beautiful tree, and we have kept it the same for about 4 or 5 years now.

Just this year, I was thinking maybe I was ready for something different. Right about that time, Max told me, while gazing at our tree, that it was the most beautiful Christmas tree he had ever seen, and that although there were a lot of other trees that he liked, he thought ours was the very best. Hmmmm.... I guess we won't be changing it just yet!

I buy ornaments for my kids when I see ones that I like, and my mom occasionally send them ornaments as well. Now they have quite a collection!

The boys love decorating their tree. They do it all themselves, and there is quite a bit of deliberation/negotiation involved in placing the ornaments just so.


Eva has a tiny tabletop tree on her dresser. Lucas found something he wanted to give to her for Christmas, so as soon as we had our trees up (end of November) he enlisted my help with wrapping and placed his gift under Eva's tree. She has asked many questions about that gift with its accompanying lollipop, which prompted Lucas to take her under his wing and explain everything about Christmas. They walked all around the house together, speaking in hushed tones, as he pointed out various things. She hung on his every word. It's my favorite memory of this Christmas-time so far.

p.s. I did take some pictures of myself in front of the tree, but they didn't turn out. Oops!

p.p.s. My cousin Ashley emailed me some pictures of her tree this year. She made the ornaments herself out of chipboard and glitter. How cute & clever is that??

25 comments:

Amy said...

Yes, I think your tree is beautiful, too. I am full of envy that your mom sent you so many ornaments! I had a real hankering for a beautiful tree this year, but it just didn't happen. When am I going to learn that I need to start way earlier in the year to do all the things I want to do?

Marie said...

Hi! I read your comment on Kelly's blog and followed to see who you were. I was so excited to find someone who doesn't have a tree full of childhood memeories and just decorates it to suit their taste. I was begining to think I was even stranger than I thought!

I read a couple of your posts and enjoyed myself so much, I'll be back for sure. Have you ever come to see me? I'm not sure....

Unknown said...

ooh, i love the look of sugared fruit. i love my memory tree, but really hope to incorporate more trees with themes as we grow.

welcome back to spt!!

Diana said...

Your tree is beautiful. Wow you know how to decorate anything!
The story with Lucas explaining Christmas to Eva is just too cute. I love his present to her with the lollipop, she has great self restraint to not open it!

Diana said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
everything pink! said...

Michelle! oh my i just got your good mail you sent me and i am going crazy. i saw jill's earlier today and was completely jealous. i love love love them. thank you so much!
thank you.

Elisa said...

The sugared fruit is lovely.

It's so cute to have a little tree just for Eva, what a lucky little girl to have two big brothers who adore her.

melanie said...

I love your sugared fruit ornaments! I remember them from last year, I would love a tree like that one day. I went with a matching tree last year and so many people have given me a hard time about not having a 'kid' tree. When we have more room, our kids will have one like yours.

I've totally fallen off the SPT radar and I'm not happy about it. Maybe next week.

Anonymous said...

I love the way your blog looks. It is wonderful. Love all the ornaments that your mom sent. They are really beautiful.

patsy said...

Wow those sugar fruit ornaments are sooo pretty. I love them.
Your boys are so sweet to that little Eva. She is a lucky gal.
Your aunt's tree is darling too. All this wonderful decorating must run in the family!?

Barb said...

I would love to do a cookie tree! (and meet your mom)
I am so impressed with your ornament storage box, and I'm motivated to improve on ziploc bags tossed into a rubbermaid tote.

Jill said...

Your tree is the most glamorous tree I've ever seen. I had never seen a tree like that before witnessing yours.

I love it that your kids have their own trees in their rooms so that they can have kid-type ornaments and decorate it themselves.

Ashley's ornaments are brilliant!!

Elizabeth said...

It is a beautiful tree indeed. It would be hard to change that one out.

patsy said...

Michelle~ you really need to start an etsy shop with your tags. I saw them on Jill's blog. Seriously they would sell like hot cakes!

Jana said...

Sadly, the ornaments from my childhood are a little bit thrashed. I don't put them up anymore. I love your sugared fruit.

April said...

Your fruit ornaments are gorgeous...I hope you never retire them. I want to be first in line, if you ever decide to get rid of them.

P.S. I love the references to your mother's cleverness.

carlo said...

beautiful tree! love the sparkly fruits...

we currently have 2 trees- one kid themed. fun and full of whimsy in the family room, the other one, not so kid-like but a mishmash of my fave ornaments.

BUT someday I would love a themed tree, to bring the total to 3. i can't imagine not doing the other 2 so 3 it would have to be!

the more the merrier, right? :)

Liz said...

I love your tree! SO pretty! I think it is neat that your kids all have trees as well. Great idea!

My kids all get an ornament from my Mom each year. I am thinking I need to get them each their own box to hold them in and to keep track of them as well! :0

Anonymous said...

Ashley's tree is too cute! Thanks for posting the photo.

Rachel said...

Love the sugared fruit tree - so elegant! And so incredibly sweet of Lucas to be such a great big brother; very tender,

Robyn said...

I love the sugared fruit tree. The colors are great. I think Max is right!

Bond Girl 007 said...

oh my gosh, I can't believe your mum sends you ornaments by the truck load...wow what a nice gesture. I usually have to wait until christmas is over and the sales are looming before I buy ornaments. I especially love the ones from Restoration and Pottery Barn, but usually forgo them, since they are just too pricey...I am like you...I like to invent and my mum takes after your mum in doing their own thing way ahead of their time, but I think I am keeping with my ornaments for awhile before I change it drastically. My mum loves to put 2 to 3 clusters of balls ...I don't have enough to try that just yet, but I am sooo picky about my ornaments, if it doesn't flow, I just don't put it. I have a very very soft side for Nutcrakers...I absolutely adore them.

Kelly said...

I remember peeking in at your blog last year, and being in love with your sugared fruit tree. Still am! It's really so lovely.

I made the mistake of ordering ornaments for my "pretty" tree online, and thinking they were red, green and purple. In reality they are gold, rust and brown. Sooo disappointing, but the year I did it was right after PQ was born, and I wasn't up to tracking something new down. But, next year, there will be something actually pretty on the pretty tree.

Amie said...

Your tree looks straight from a magazine. How handy to have a mom to send you all sorts of great things.

I need two trees. I am too sentimental to get rid of all of the ornaments we have collected but I would love a showroom tree too.

Anonymous said...

It was so fun to catch up! I haven't been able to look at blogs for weeks!!

I'm glad you still like your tree! To tell the truth, I had been thinking of some new additions or "suggestions" for change! I won't offer any until you say!! I put up 5 full size trees and 3 small ones.....I won't do that again for a few years , I'm not over it yet! How did you like the new tree? It looked great! Sooooo real! Thanks for the great posts and updates for me! I can't comment on them all, but I go on the record for loving them all, your writing perfection is always a thrill to me!

Loving you....

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