Our Christmas Centerpiece ~ The Tree Part 2

Today's Guest Blogger is
Mimi from Screaming Mimi





She's back to share more about her favorite Christmas Tradition!

Once we've spent the day picking out the tree and enjoying the tree farm the night is all about my very favorite holiday tradition of all. Decorating the tree.

When my parents were married in 1965 and my dad was drafted and sent to Ft. Leonardwood, Missouri army base they lived in a tiny trailer. That fist Christmas they didn't have any ornaments for their little tree & had to make them out of tin foil. They were far away from home and their large families and the sad little tree made them even sadder.

When I was born 2 years later my mom started buying me Christmas ornaments every year, so that when I left home my first tree would be beautiful. We would put on Christmas carols and invite family over to watch me decorate the tree.

Now with my own family the tree decorating traditions are very specific. The Wonderful World of Christmas by Elvis Presley must be playing.

We haul up the boxes of ornaments from the basement, I have enought to decorate at least 3 trees, and I pick through the ornaments, taking them out of their boxes for the boys to hang on the tree. When I find the occasional one that is super special, I hang it myself.

Here's John, Jack & Oskar waiting to decorate the tree 4 years ago.

Our Christmas tree is white lights only & no theme trees for us. It's a mix of every type of ornament there is.

Here's my tree, the absolute favorite part of my Holidays, after it's decorated.

And here's last year's tree, decorated with a garland made of fabric yo-yo's that my grandmother made before she died.

For me the tree represents, holiday, family, and love from several generations. It's one day & one night that we can spend, relaxed as a family before the hustle and bustle of running to celebrations near and far, that I hold onto in my heart from year to year.