Christmas ornaments

I want to share a tradition that I made up for my kids, that seems to continue to resonate with them, and one that I think they will do with their kids.

Each year Santa brings each child an ornament that is found on the Christmas tree Christmas morning.  The ornament is of Santa himself, and each has the kid's name and the year sharpied somewhere on the back.  

So, every Christmas since they were born, they have received an ornament; at this point my eldest is 26 so she has her 26th ornament coming this year. 

Needless to say, our tree has become a Santa themed tree just due to the shear numbers of Santa ornaments there are, (we have three kids) and it is amazing that no two are alike. When the kids were small the ornaments were soft, unbreakable Santa's, and as they grew and became involved with activities Santa would reflect their current passion; dancing or wearing a soccer kit, or drinking from a stein...  To this day, they are excited to see their past Santa's on the tree and hunt for the new ones, first thing Christmas morning.  

If you decide to do something like this with your family you will find it amazing that some year's you can't find Santa ornaments:   snowmen are in, or cardinals.... and so then you start the hunt earlier in the year to be on the safe side.  Also, due to this on going need, you visit Christmas stores on your vacations in foreign lands ( Montreal, Canada was ours) looking for unique Santa's, and  "the hunt" becomes very pleasurable if you do it early.  If you wait until now and start looking, that will be the year there are none to be found and you will be panicking!  

I know people who have taken this idea and done snowmen, or birds (not limited to cardinals) or snowflakes... whatever you decide be sure you can create one in the event of a barren year at the stores....

When the girls have a home of their own and feel they are ready, I will give them their special tub of ornaments so they have a start on their tree decorating, and I will have to be sure to get a smaller tree, until I start collecting Santa's for myself.