In all it's glory! We have about 300 ornaments, some dating back to my childhood. We have lots of great handmade ones because we have a tradition with another family where we exchange handmade ornaments for the kids--we definitely got the best part of that deal--they make creative and really fun ornaments out of Family Fun and Good Housekeeping, while we use kits from Michaels. We also have the ornaments we give the kids each year that they will eventually take for their own trees. Snow Babies for Grownup Girl and Social Butterfly, Santas for Danger Boy and Snowmen for MVP.
The ornament that started it all--1987. I believe it was the very first year bread dough ornaments were made. It was, after all, the 80's! Given to us by a dear friend, who may or may not read this blog--she never comments!
Gosh, I'm first. That has made my mind go blank!!
What a fine specimen that tree is. And so beautifully decorated.
I hate to say it but we actually have a stash of stolen ornaments - my daughter once went through a phase of nicking one small item off any public Christmas tree we went past. I had no idea till I found them in a box under her bed about 2 years later! Some of them are rather nice. We did lecture her about stealing etc but I thought it was rather a nice idea if it had been a swap rather than a theft!
I kind of get the urge to take ornaments now if I pass a tree in a shopping mall. But I do resist!!
Posted by: Reluctant Blogger | December 10, 2008 at 05:38 AM
Beautiful tree!
We do the "homemade" (definition varies) ornament exchange with the kid's friends too! Best idea my neighbor ever had!
Posted by: Karen | December 10, 2008 at 06:50 AM
Beautiful tree!!! Got to love the memories!
Posted by: Amy | December 10, 2008 at 07:48 AM
That tree is Gorgeous! Love the red wall, too. Can you show us more of your home? Now I'm intrigued.
Posted by: jenrantsraves | December 10, 2008 at 08:12 AM
I have a few dough ornaments myself.
My tree will be quite bare after my kids take all their memento ornaments.
KEEP BELIEVING
Posted by: Angie @ KEEP BELIEVING | December 10, 2008 at 08:33 AM
The tree is gorgeous. So nice that you have a tradition of trading home made ones...very smart.
I forgot about those bread dough ones...I must have made them at one point because just looking at it gave me a funny taste in my mouth...salty? very strange.
Posted by: Suzanne | December 10, 2008 at 08:42 AM
Lovely tree!
Maybe you have inspired me to get the tree up before the end of the week? Because suddenly my house feels a bit bare...
Posted by: kcinnova | December 10, 2008 at 09:43 AM
So pretty! Isn't it fun to remember the years as you are putting the ornaments on your tree? We have a few dough ornaments, too! One from 1975!
Posted by: MamaHenClucks | December 10, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Beautiful! I love the red ribbons. We too give each of the kids an ornament every year for them to take when they're older. And the kids make their own presents for the siblings, which are usually ornaments too.
Posted by: Lori | December 10, 2008 at 10:48 AM
oooh beautiful! the red ribbons look so rich!
Posted by: phd in yogurtry | December 10, 2008 at 11:26 AM
We do the same in our house. I just love trees with sentimental/family memories. We have ornaments from my childhood, ones we purchase on vacations, and ones that the boys will take with them when the grow up and fly the coop.
Posted by: Heidi | December 10, 2008 at 01:11 PM
Beautiful, Jenn! I'm sure mine will be nice too, once we get around to buying one. How many shopping days left? Oh, lordy...
Posted by: Tina | December 10, 2008 at 01:39 PM
Your tree is lovely! Absolutely lovely! Now, for what I REALLY want to know... exactly what shade is that paint on the wall BEHIND your tree - because THAT is the red I've been looking for! And it adds so much to the Christmasy feel of this picture!!!
Posted by: Annie | December 10, 2008 at 02:34 PM
My mom bought me a "we're expecting" dough ornament when I was pregnant with Max. It was already broken the next year!
Posted by: Memarie Lane | December 10, 2008 at 03:02 PM
Jenn~
If I took a photo of my tree? You'd think it was your tree. Right down to the red bows. One difference though? Our handmade ornaments? Foil-covered TP rolls. But still.
Posted by: Cheri @ Blog This Mom! | December 10, 2008 at 03:34 PM
It's a beautiful tree. We are decorating the tree tonight.
Posted by: Gina | December 10, 2008 at 06:14 PM
I love your tree and all the red bows! Currently mine looks awful, I let the kids have free reign over it while decorating last night and I haven't the heart to rearrange just yet . . . but believe me, I WILL! SOON!
Posted by: Carrie | December 10, 2008 at 06:42 PM
That's a beauty!
Posted by: mrs. g. | December 10, 2008 at 07:38 PM
Beau-ti-ful!
Posted by: shelia | December 10, 2008 at 10:26 PM
So pretty!!!! Our monstroistree fell over on the 2nd day and broke our "first year together" ornament. Whatever. It was ugly anyways. ;)
Posted by: CC | December 11, 2008 at 01:30 PM
he, I have friends who read but never comment, too. Those non-bloggers :-)
Beautiful tree!
Posted by: Janet | December 11, 2008 at 02:56 PM
300! You counted? I would be afraid to count.
It's lovely.
Posted by: magpie | December 12, 2008 at 03:08 PM
I too have ornaments for the boys...every year I buy two new ones for them to take if and when they ever leave!!
I told Cheri that YOUR tree is what MY tree wants to be when it grows up!!!
Will be getting ours up hopefully today...maybe...it depends on how things go.
I may just sit here and deny that Christmas is coming soooooon for just a little bit longer!!! :-D
Posted by: debbie | December 13, 2008 at 08:46 PM
Your tree is gorgeous!!!
I too have ornaments for the boys...every year I buy two new ones for them to take if and when they ever leave!!
I told Cheri that YOUR tree is what MY tree wants to be when it grows up!!!
Will be getting ours up hopefully today...maybe...it depends on how things go.
I may just sit here and deny that Christmas is coming soooooon for just a little bit longer!!! :-D
Posted by: debbie | December 13, 2008 at 08:48 PM