BOY, do I love Christmastime!!! And you’d better believe I squeeze out every second I can- I’m not letting one single holly, jolly moment go to waste! And based on your emails, tweets and facebook comments, I happen to know that there are quite a lot of you out there that get into the spirit of things just as much as I do! So, I decided (just for the fun of it) to post a few pictures of some of my favorite Christmas keepsakes. Ornaments are a very big deal to me- I’m not one of these people who decorate their tree in one shade of glass balls. Nope. I need colored lights, candy canes, precious glass balls of every color and all the funky homemade stuff my husband and I made as kids for our parents’ trees. I love every single bit of it. If this doesn’t get you in the holiday spirit, you probably need a good smacking. 😉
First up, my great-grandmother, Baba’s bells. I have about 30 of these little white bells; they used to be on Baba’s tree. I treasure anything that was once on Baba’s tree!!
This is my little kitchen tree. All the ornaments are food-related (yes, that’s a taco ornament you see in the background). 😉
Yikes. I made this in elementary school. And no, those are not giant striped turkey legs roasting on the fire….they’re stockings. Obviously.
An homage to my quirky side- our Christmas tree wouldn’t be complete without all my Nightmare Before Christmas ornaments!
I think these are my favorites. Joel and I each made these in Sunday school (at different times) as kids…before we even knew each other. They hung on our parents’ trees for years and years; and now they hang our own tree side by side every year.
From our first married Christmas…
Just one of many, many cupcake ornaments!
Baba gave this to me as a wedding gift. It’s significant because she and Pop were married in car (it’s a great story, I just don’t have time to go into right now!). My sister has one too and we both cherish them.
Joel’s mother bought this for me
This is the most special one of all. When we were in high school (long before we had even started dating), Joel brought this to me as a Christmas present. There’s a little button on the bottom that plays jingle bells when you push it; I sat in the floor pushing the button over and over again wishing Joel were my boyfriend! I knew right then I wanted to marry him! I can never hang this on our tree without crying…
So there you have it! Some of my favorite, most precious ornaments and keepsakes. And those don’t even scratch the surface- I have SO much more! I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season so far…baking, decorating, singing carols, and being with friends and family! Thanks for letting me share my memories with you!
Happy Baking!
I feel the exact same way about my ornaments!!! Both my daughter’s pick out a new one every year so when they leave home they have their own collection of special memories to take with them. Same as my mom did for me and my sister 🙂
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Comment by Alyson — December 3, 2010 @ 4:21 PM
Our tree is just the same! I have ornaments that were my mamaw’s, some that were my mom’s, some of my favorites are ones that my brother brought me from Germany. I even have some that were my best friend’s grandmother’s. And many that are hand-crafted by me, mom and my boys. Each one has it’s own memory!
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Comment by Sheila Craft Freeman — December 3, 2010 @ 4:55 PM
Beautiful tree!! I love when the ornaments have sentimental value and meanings. And I agree anything from a loved one’s tree is such a treasure. My father gave me my late mother’s tree and her nutcracker collection and I just love seeing them in my Christmas decorations! LOVE that taco ornament – too cool!! The one you made in school is adorable but it makes me feel soooo old 😉 In 1994 I was a sophomore in college!! EEEEK!!
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Comment by Amy Brown — December 3, 2010 @ 5:17 PM
my tree without all the things that the kids have made over the years would be no different than a display at walgreen’s. i love that your tree is just so you. Merry Christmas 🙂
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Comment by Chris — December 3, 2010 @ 6:06 PM
Heartwarming and lovely…just like it should be!(Can’t wait to buy a Just Married ornament for my daughter…) Merry Christmas to you and your family!
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Comment by UrMomCooks — December 3, 2010 @ 6:30 PM
Gorgeous tree!!
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Comment by kristy ray — December 3, 2010 @ 6:33 PM
Beautiful!
You are making me fee so inadequate with your fun, unique ornaments that all have meanings and memories.
I just have a bunch of red and silver Christmas balls. 🙁
I can totally see your personality in your tree!
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Comment by Arena @ {thenerdswife} — December 3, 2010 @ 6:34 PM
Thank you for sharing!! You have a beautiful tree!! I love how ornaments have stories behind them!! I am like you, a collect of all ornaments!! They all have special meaning!! Great post!!
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Comment by pup — December 3, 2010 @ 6:34 PM
I love your ornaments… and I applaud you for them! I can’t stand theme trees and all their color coordinated (also known as meaning and personality free) decorations. I also love Christmas and there is nothing better than a UNIQUE traditional Christmas tree with ornaments that have memories and meaning.
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Comment by Heather — December 3, 2010 @ 9:11 PM
Great pics. I love all the ornaments.
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Comment by Jen @ BeantownBaker.com — December 4, 2010 @ 10:06 AM
GAWgeous tree girl! Love the memories too. MY hubby has more memory ornaments than I do!
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Comment by Noelle — December 4, 2010 @ 10:54 PM
The most beautiful Christmas trees are the ones decorated with all the treasures we have saved from years past. Love and memories in each and every one.Being a floral designer with a shop, we decorate many trees that are beautiful but none as special as those with memories. Your tree is very beautiful! Merry Christmas!
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Comment by Jean — December 5, 2010 @ 5:59 PM
Awww – your tree is gorgeous Amy 🙂
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Comment by Eliana — December 7, 2010 @ 2:30 PM
The is a gorgeous tree! This is our 2nd Christmas as a married couple, and I’m slowly but surely building our ornament collection. My tree is nothing compared to yours though. Absolutely beautiful!
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Comment by Nicole — December 8, 2010 @ 3:02 PM
Thank you all for your sweet comments! Christmas is a big deal in our house and I’m so happy to share it with you! Merry Christmas to all of you!!
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Comment by amy — December 8, 2010 @ 4:13 PM
Can’t wait to see all your pretty decorations and tree(s) in person! Your house always looks beautiful at Christmas and smells so good from all the good food you make!
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Comment by Mother — December 9, 2010 @ 12:23 PM
Oh my goodness! I know it’s early, but I LOVE Christmas! I just found this post and love it. My grandparents used to make us ornaments every year and I love having them now!
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Comment by ChiHa — September 18, 2012 @ 1:29 PM