Special Ornaments

I know, I know, I know... some of you are just plain sick of checking my blog and seeing that same Christmas program picture. I'm sorry! It's been a busy week and I just haven't had the motivation to blog.... because the week hasn't been filled with anything too exciting. Madison had soccer practice on Tuesday at a gym that was 1/2 hour away so I had no choice but to hang around and wait for it to be over... I was the car pool person that night. I did go and get some groceries though during that time (although I have to go again today). Wednesday night I had a board meeting at church which lasted from 6:30-10 and before that started I spent 45 minutes driving as the car pool person to deliver Madison and a friend to a Sunday School class party. That evening was pretty much gone the second I stepped into the house. On Monday and Thursday the kids spent part of the evenings with Aunt Michelle, Uncle Archie and Jade. Last night Archie had them out in the back yard teaching them how to use a BB gun. The fun never ends when he's in town.

Since I didn't have any pictures to post for you, I took some pictures of some of my favorite ornaments that are on our tree. The collage actually kind of looks like one big picture but they are really nine different snapshots. Location described as you would find them on a clock...

Center: This is a ceramic baby Jesus that I painted as a kid. It hangs on our tree every.single.year.

Noon: A picture ornament of Quinn that he made in preschool.

1pm: Tony was an "airplane junky" as a kid too. This is one of his ornaments from his childhood. You would be surprised (or may be not) at how many airplane ornaments we actually have... that's for another post).

3pm: Madison's bell ornament with loads of glitter, made as a preschooler.

5pm: A backpack and picture to remember Madison' first year as a kindergartner.

6pm: A cookie cutter that we had as kids of Santa. We used it every single year. My mom was ready to retire some of her cutters so I made this into an ornament for our tree.

7pm: This one will shock all but about 3 of you! A group of 4 of us actually went to Oprah's Christmas show one year!!...You know... the one where she usually gives out the big refrigerators, electronics, linens, kitchen items... all of her favorite things?? WELL... this particular year that we went... this one and only Christmas show was on how to emphasize less of the getting... and focus more on the giving. SO, in order to get into the show, we actually had to BRING a gift for a Salvation Army kid that her producers had assigned to us over the phone in order to get into the building. We were given these Christopher Radko (sp?) ornaments under our chairs though. Doesn't that just sound so like our luck...? ha!! Tonya, Lisa, Angie and I have never forgotten the memories behind this ornament! I think Oprah "owes us" another Christmas show don't you??? ha.

9pm: A ornament with glued-on pasta shapes and Madison's picture from preschool.

11pm: This shepherd boy reminds me of Quinn who played a shepherd in his kindergarten play of the Christmas story. He was so cute.

Now let me just say that these are just SOME of my favorite ornaments. I have many, many more but surely I would bore you to tears to put them all up here. Last year I actually took pictures of most of them and then wrote about them, their year, and why they are special and have it saved in my good ol computer. (I know... you can be impressed). I assure you that if you have given us an ornament in the past... it is also one of my very favorites too! If you'll come over and look at my tree, I'll tell you more stories behind each one of our ornaments. How much time do you have?

That's all for now folks.... I would love to see what Christmas is looking like at your house. Send me some pictures or if you have a blog, post them!

Joy to the World,
Leah