Decorating the Christmas Tree

While Papa and Mimi were in town we decorated the Christmas tree.  We listened to Christmas music and had fun putting their own ornaments on the tree.  Every year Oma and I pick themes that the kids are interested in that year and buy ornaments for each kid.  Here are some past ones for Julia: cell phone when she got her first one, drivers license when she turned 16, volleyball when she played, ice skating, purple butterfly, American Girl, red purse, purple heels, and this year one for her high school graduation.  Here are some past ones for Ethan: Tony Romo when he met him at EIU homecoming, White Sox, guitar, basketball, baseball, drivers license when he turned 16 and this year one for swimming.  Grayson got two ornaments last year for baby's 1st Christmas and this year he got an airplane from the movie Airplanes, a real airplane with his name as he is obsessed with them and a German guy that has moving legs from the Chris Kringle Market at the Daley Center.  We also get the kids an ornament that has the year and our family picture inside.  My mom had a tradition of giving ornaments for Christmas and then we took these when we got older and had a good start on our own trees.  I wanted to pass this tradition down to my kids so we have fun picking these out every year.

Family Tradition - Ornaments:

1st Set: Family pictures from 2004 - 2014

2nd & 3rd Sets: Family pictures close up

4th Set: Julia's ornaments

5th Set: Ethan's ornaments

6th Set: Grayson's ornaments