At the beginning of the season, I thought that we were a little lacking in the Christmas traditions department.  However, now that I have a chance to scroll back through a few of the pictures that I have taken over the holiday, I am realizing that our little family is extremely rich with traditions.  I just have been a bit blinded by life to stop and realize how much of our holiday is enveloped in the past.

When Nena was just a tiny newborn (almost 8 pounds at 4 1/2 months old) we found a tiny little angel ornament that just made me weepy because it reminded me so much of my little girl.  I bought it and placed it on our tiny tree (it was really only 3 feet tall.)  Every year since, we would take the kids out to buy an ornament.  I used to think that I would collect them and give them to my children when they got married.  I am now however, thinking that it might be nice to keep them so that when they come to visit with their families, they will have the joy of standing around the tree and explaining the ornaments to their children.  I guess I have a while to think that decision through since Nena is just 8 years old!

This year, I forwent our normal ornament shopping trend of dear old Target and decided to hit Hobby Lobby instead.  I am not so sure that that was my best move of all time.  My littles with no so much grace or ease quickly picked three of the tackiest ornaments that you have ever seen in your life.  I really had a hard time this year smiling and saying, “I love it!” to these (big gulp) beauties.  I had an even harder time plunking down the $5 for each one of them.

I had to remind myself that this was not about me.  This was a moment for them to express themselves and enjoy a moment of decision making at Christmas.  So, with no further ado, let me show you their oh so thought out selections.

Toad has hit a new phase where he loves…. Toads.  Well, frogs actually.  He asked for a frog pillow pet for Christmas.  That was a challenge since the company doesn’t MAKE a frog pillow pet.  He also is starting to notice that he has a collection of them that I have slowly gather up over the years.  He really is enjoying them.  So, in honor of his new love in life, I present, the Frog of the Bayou.  Yep.  This is the one that he INSISTED that he owns.

 
Oh, you gotta love Bear.  That kid has set his hopes so high in the sky that I am afraid that they will never come down.  He has asked for a motorcycle for about the last 5 years.  Yes, he really really really really really really wants one.  Too bad I am one of those moms that really really really really really really doesn’t ever want him to have one, so he decided to go with the alternative.  He was happy, content and it fueled his desire for the real thing even more. 

If Nena doesn’t grow up to be a vet, I will be shocked out of my socks.  That little girl would rather play with animals that any other toy or game you could give her.  She is truly obsessed.  She loves to play animal hospital with her uncle.  She saw this ornament of the Yorkie and about went nuts.  She grabbed one from the shelf and turned to show me and poof!  The ornament went flying from her hands and shattered into about a zillion pieces all over the ornament aisle of the store.  She burst into tears.  Lucky for her, an associate was walking by and quickly told her not to worry, that they could clean up the glass. He also found her a replacement which was the LAST one left in the store.  WHEW!  She was thrilled that we finally have a tribute to Brody on our tree.