a tree that tells a story

Every year when I decorate my Christmas tree, I have a certain way I like to arrange the ornaments. I get out my 'special' ones first and put them right in front where they can be seen, then fill in with the other ornaments and ribbon. This year we had so many special ornaments that we really didn't even need many other balls or ornaments. I realized then that our tree tells our story...at least since the time Rhett and I got married. It begins with our 1st Christmas together...an ornament we bought on our honeymoon in Durango, CO. Then we have ornaments we bought on vacation to various places...one of which includes a pink flamingo from Kemah, TX, which is near Galveston. Then came our second, third, and fourth Christmas together. After that we started buying ornaments for Truett marking his first Christmas and other ornaments we let him pick out, then his 2nd and 3rd Christmas. Last year we added ornaments for Claire's 1st Christmas and this year one for her 2nd Christmas.

A few days ago Truett noticed one of our ornaments with 2 snowmen from before we had children. He asked, "Why are there no babies here?" It was so cute. I had to explain to him that not too long ago, Mommy and Daddy didn't have Truett and Claire.

This whole concept got me thinking...I can only imagine what kind of story our tree will tell 5, 10, 20, or even 50 years from now...

just a few of our "special" ornaments

Claire's 1st Christmas

Claire's footprint...6 weeks old

Our 1st Christmas together

Claire's 2nd Christmas

Truett's ornament from Nanny

Truett's handprint...4 months old

a dove I put at the top of my tree every year...it came from a flower arrangment sent to us when my Grandma Allie Taylor passed away (she is who Claire is named after)

another one for Claire's 1st Christmas...can't see it, but it's a spoon with pink rhinestones

Our Family of 4!

Truett's 1st Christmas