We bought ornaments to commemorate adopting our dog (2012), wedding (2013), and DS's first Christmas (2014) but we don't really have anything special for 2015. I remember picking out something pretty to hang on the tree every year when I was a kid.
Is this a tradition in your family? What did you pick?
We will usually buy ornaments from vacations we take during the year.
I'd like to get the kids ornaments every year. Last year for the first christmas I got them engraved silver bells from Things Remembered. This year I ordered them these.
Yes! That's my favorite part of putting up the tree. We have one from all our big vacations and milestones. I always make sure we get at least 1 a year.
Post by usuallylurking on Dec 11, 2015 13:39:49 GMT -5
Yes. H and I collaborate and decide on one ornament for each kid, usually it has to do with what they're interested in that year. DS1 has been trains for the past 4 years- this year it's Thomas with a Santa hat and tree on top. DS2 is getting a mama and baby elephant (animal lover is putting it mildly, the kid is obsessed), and DS3 is getting a Winnie the Pooh ornament because I don't really know what else to get him.
H and I have a tradition of buying one for each other every year. There's no theme, just whatever we choose. We bought our first home this fall, so I'm getting H one to do with that.
Every year our family changes (add a child) we get a new cheesy personalized one with everyone's names.
We will usually buy ornaments from vacations we take during the year.
I'd like to get the kids ornaments every year. Last year for the first christmas I got them engraved silver bells from Things Remembered. This year I ordered them these.
Awe! I love those! I still need to get one for DD. I like the silver bells idea.
ILs give us the Swarovski snowflake, that's what counts. one of them broke this year
I have been trying to get in the tradition of making one every year. I "took up" pyrography, which means I bought the equipment, a couple of books, took a class, and ... never do anything with it. This is the kind of thing I'm talking abotu when I say what I really want for christmas is days that are 4 hours longer with no added responsibilities or need to sleep more.
Post by lemoncupcake on Dec 11, 2015 13:43:38 GMT -5
We buy an ornament or two for each place we visit on vacation, which has been at least an annual occurrence up to this point. Now that we will be homebound a little bit more, we will probably find something new to add to our collection each year as well as one each year per child.
Yes we get ornaments for each kid and when we go on vacation. Ideally the kid ornament represents something about them that year - like a crayon box the year DS started school or a tennis racket to show his interest in tennis, etc. we got a Lego one this year because the boys are nuts for Legos.
We will usually buy ornaments from vacations we take during the year.
I'd like to get the kids ornaments every year. Last year for the first christmas I got them engraved silver bells from Things Remembered. This year I ordered them these.
Awe! I love those! I still need to get one for DD. I like the silver bells idea.
My parents got the bells for my brother and I when we were little so I was excited to pass along the tradition!
Yes, I get the ornament from the Father Christmas series at Hallmark. Growing up we bought at least one special ornament each year. Then they were the first ones to go on the tree in order, starting with 1982. My mom still does that with them.
My kids get at least one ornament a year and they go on their tree in the parlor.
I miss knowing someone who worked for Hallmark and getting 50% off in their corporate store.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Dec 11, 2015 14:02:08 GMT -5
My mom board has done an ornament exchange for a few years, so I have several personalized ornaments from the last 4-5ish years. This year DD picked out one from our Disneyland trip and another one from her birthday weekend.
Yes, I do this every year. DH couldn'tt care less, but likes what I pick out. Let's see if I can remember the last few. I think they're all from various Etsy sellers. I get custom ones made every year to commemorate whatever was the "big deal" that year.
2012: DS's first Christmas, ornament is an elf holding a ball that says "baby's first Christmas" 2013: chicken coop with custom details to look like our coop and our chickens 2014: a silver key stamped with "our new home" and our address for the new house 2015: DD's first Christmas, same elf but a girl.
Post by turtlegirl on Dec 11, 2015 14:03:24 GMT -5
Yes. Usually a family ornament and one for each kid too. We did the same thing growing up and my mom has given me some of my old ornaments. So it's fun to add those to our tree.
We always had a crazy mis-matched, handmade ornament type tree growing up and I loved it. So that's what ours is too.
Post by hilwithonelary on Dec 11, 2015 14:04:41 GMT -5
The kids and I each have a series of Hallmark ornaments that began the year we were born. I have Nostalgic Houses and Shops, DS has Frosty Fun Decade, and DD has Cookie Cutter Christmas. It's a tradition started by my grandma when I was born.
We also have special ornaments for our first married Christmas and baby's first Christmas.
This year I want to find something with 4 snowman's or penguins.
I highly recommend the Etsy shop Buttonwilloe designs. She made both my kid's "baby's first Christmas" ornaments and they are oh so cute and some of my cherished possessions. She's a super nice woman, easy to work with, happy to do custom details. I see snowmen and Penguins in her shop.
Oh and I buy any ornament I like, really. This year too I found a large (like 5" tall) hand blown glass chicken that looks like our current chickens (brown and white) and I LOVE IT.
yes, we all get new ornaments every year. DH and I started doing it the first year we were dating and have kept it up. DH buys me one, I buy him one and we both buy the boys. They typically have something to do with the previous year. I got DH one related to the beach trip we took this summer. The boys' ornaments have to do with skiing (we skied a ton last winter with them). I'm pretty sure DH is getting me a dog one (we got our dog this year). We open them up on Christmas Eve so we can put them on the tree that night. I love putting up the tree every year and reminiscing about all of our adventures. And, we each put up our own ornaments
This year I want to find something with 4 snowman's or penguins.
I highly recommend the Etsy shop Buttonwilloe designs. She made both my kid's "baby's first Christmas" ornaments and they are oh so cute and some of my cherished possessions. She's a super nice woman, easy to work with, happy to do custom details. I see snowmen and Penguins in her shop.
Thanks for the rec. I was less than impressed with the stuff I was seeing on Amazon.
We get ornaments from every vacation and for big milestone years. We also get an ornament for each other every year. The night we decorate the family tree we exchange ornaments, watch Elf, and eat Chinese food. One of my favorite days of the year! Here are this year's ornaments
We buy one every year on our vacation from that year. I love looking at the ornaments from all of our travels:)
This year I also got a baby's first christmas ornament from land of nod that I ordered OVER A MONTH AGO and has yet to arrive. Annoying. But I will be excited to have it.
Post by cincodemayo on Dec 11, 2015 14:16:59 GMT -5
Growing up, we got one every year and starting at around age 5 I always got the same brand ornament every year so they all match. I'd like to do something similar for my kids but am already behind! My mom has started buying my son penguin ornaments which is fine, but I really want something that is from ME and DH and means something to me. I wish we would have bought ornaments on all of our trips as a couple, too, because I love that idea. We are taking our first extended family vacation in January so I hope to pick up an ornament then, too.