A Sentimental Christmas.

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday.  Growing up my parents made it very fun for us kids.  My Mom always baked and sewed and decorated, just went all out.  My Dad would take our family to a tree farm to cut down our tree.  It really was never about the gifts, but about making the whole season special for us and for others.  Christmas eve after church neighbors and friends would stop by to eat the food that both my Mom and Nana would make.  I'm hoping that we are making the same impression on our kids.  We are trying to teach them that it's not about "stuff" but about giving to others in whatever way we can. 
Each year as I look at our decorations I remember different people or places.  I have ornaments that I made as a kid, that were given to me by friends when I was little or the ones that my Mom still buys us each year.
I thought I would share a few things that make Christmas special for me.

This turkey ornament is actually a light bulb.  It was on my great Nana's Christmas tree long ago.  My Nana gave it to me many years ago, probably when I was in high school.  It's made it through many moves and each year when I hang it on my tree I wonder what it looked like lit up on a Christmas tree somewhere in Canada.

This very old Santa was given to me by my elderly piano teacher, who happened to be our next door neighbor, when I lived in southern California as a little girl.  It was very old when it was given to me all wrapped in tissue.  I still remember the day she gave both my sister and I one of these Santas.  I always wonder about it's history.  I still have the piano books that we used during lessons, one of which is a Christmas one.

Our Christmas tree has no theme other than it looks like it was decorated by a family with kids.  I love all the homemade ornaments my kids have made over the years.

This old felt stocking was made for me by a neighbor for my first Christmas many years ago.  I've seen newer and fancier ones, but I could never replace this stocking.  Things with memories are far more important to me than something fancy and new.  I love the ric rac trim, remember when that was on everything?

The Littlest Gardener created this gingerbread house.  We had fun working on it together.

How many people have their very own princess helping them bake?  The Littlest Gardener likes to be dressed up in costumes and Cinderella is the perfect one for making Rocky Road fudge!  Her ballet recital yesterday was probably one of the sweetest things I've seen.  She absolutely loved being on the stage and having people there to watch her.

I want to wish you all very Merry Christmas!  I hope it's a good one full of many new memories.