The Tree is Up!

Our Christmas tree is a nod to the time that has passed since Baird and I were married more than two decades ago.  Here are my favorite ornaments that feature our kids:

Kelsey was first introduced to the Japanese anime character Totoro when she started taking Japanese a few years ago.  The character is huge in Japan, but much more obscure here in the U.S.  She asked for a stuffed Totoro for Christmas 2010, and we were so excited to put this smile on her face.

Back in the day, we had a volunteer at church who would make these cute little frames for all the Sparkies in our Awana group.  I have a collection of nine of these ornaments - three kids from all three years of Sparks, but this one is my favorite.  While all of the kids loved being in Sparks, Erin outshone her siblings in her enthusiasm, and volunteered as a Leader-in-Training for several years, starting when she was in sixth grade.

This silver ornament is one of three I was given as a gift years ago.  The photo of my preschool Drew reminds me of how much he loves this season.  Talk to Drew for just a couple of moments, and you'll come to learn he's equal parts enthusiasm and mischief.  The little grin on his face in this pic shows that mischievous side.  He loves the Christmas season almost as much as I do.  The year this photo was taken, he was chosen to sing a solo in our church's children's choir.  He sang the second verse of Away in a Manger.  My mother's heart swelled with pride and laughter when he sang:

The cattle are glowing

the baby awakes

But little Lord Jesus

no crying, He makes

 Yep, "glowing" cattle.

So, with the tree finally decorated, the rest of the decorations up, and all the boxes put away, Christmas tunes cranked on the stereo, and all this reminiscing, it finally feels like Christmas!