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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Last Favorite Things Friday of 2011!

Yes, it's the last FTF for 2011. To see what others are touting as their favorite things, hope on over to Quilting In My Pyjamas for the linkee party. Maybe add your own link while you are there. :)
For my last FTF of 2011, I wanted to mention how great it is my mother started a little tradition with her kids. She had us all help make or pick out and hang specific Christmas ornaments. As time went by and when she was able to while we were older, she bought special ornaments for us or our kids the first couple years of their lives. Then, it became our turn to continue this new tradition or let it fall by the wayside.  I choose to continue it because there is nothing better than putting ornaments on my tree each year and having a memory that goes along with it.

For example, the ornament that denotes my current opinion about mornings without coffee.
Or maybe, if I were a cartoon character, who I would be?
The gift from a team member of mine when I was coaching basketball.
How about the ones that remind me of when hubs was deployed and/or of our lives in and the forever association/family ties we will have with each and every military family out there?

The one I purchased for the hubs last year b/c he and I have fallen in love with the Vizsla breed.  Oh, don't let me forget the one that reminds me that I'm a loyal fan of the Miami Dolphins and Dan Marino in particular!
The one my mom purchased for hubs the first year we were together b/c she called him a Grinch and then thought it would be funny to give him the ornament...
The first baby ornament (you know, I never did do one of these for my second kid...)
The ornaments from Grandma or mom to the kids and even the ones from the kids to me.



The ornaments that are my husband's and my keepsakes from our trips together.
To Louisiana

To Puerto Rico
To Las Vegas
To Oroville, CA for a friend's wedding
and to Ireland (b/c we weren't collecting ornaments at the time we first honeymooned but hopefully I
will find something appropriate representing our trip, this year.)

How about the ones that remind me of family? My brother is a huge Snoopy fan and my nephew is currently all about Spiderman. I am anticipating him finding Spiderman on my tree this year.

There are also the ones I received as a gift from a dear friend when I first married. I thought it odd at first, to receive Christmas ornaments when the wedding wasn't near the holiday but then I realized the awesomeness of the gift. First tree, need ornaments, have memories forever of the wedding AND friendship.


 Oh, the one my mom painted (colored or whatever) and the ones I made.

Let's not discount the more traditional items like those pesky elves resurfacing from grandma's garage and the pickle.  In our family, it's such a game to hide the pickle and the first to find it wins a prize. When the kids were younger, this was very competitive. Now as they are older, it's still competitive but it's more about reliving the fun of earlier years searching.


Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn't let you know I had ornaments which also remind me of the very reason for Christmas day.
Well, that's all for this installment of Favorite Things Friday. I hope you've enjoyed my little jaunt down memory lane and seeing some of the special items which adorn my tree.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!
Beck

19 comments:

  1. Love all the different ornaments .. where did you get the spiderman one? what a great FTF

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  2. Great ornaments and a wonderful tree...happy holidays!

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  3. Thank you for this great favourite and special tour. I loved seeing all yopour decorations and the associated memories...just lovely.

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  5. I love love love the Grumpy ornament, and the s'mores one is so cute...I totally undertstand the importance ornaments have in your life...a few yrs ago I lost a someone very important to me, and I hang ornaments with her name and footprints, and I feel in that way she is still a part of Christmas.

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  6. ahhh, sweetie girl...you are so wise for your young years to know how precious all those memories attached to the ornaments are. So glad you chose to keep the tradition going.
    The ornies are all great and your tree is beautiful.
    xo bj

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  7. Love it! What a great post. It's always so much fun to get out all of the ornaments - funny how all of those memories come jumping out of the box too!

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  8. Love all your different ornaments, lots of, wonderful reminders to search for while admiring the tree. Love both pics of your tree, it looks colorful and really beautiful all lit up with the lights.

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  9. Having a tree filled with unique ornaments and memories is simply fabulous!

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  10. I love unique ornaments. I clutter mine up insane like.

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  11. So love all your ornaments and the wonderful memories you shared. I taught for 37 years and students would often give me an ornament at Christmas. It was so wonderful to remember each student at this time of year. Unfortunately, when we moved to Las Vegas (noticed your chip ornament), they did not make the trip due to downsizing. Your tree is so beautiful in all its variety.

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  12. I so enjoyed seeing your ornaments!!

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  13. It's so cool that you have such special memories captured in your ornaments. It's like reliving a little bit of those times when you decorate the tree--which, by the way, is gorgeous!

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  14. Love your ornaments, Becky! We let our kids decorate the tree, and let's just say our decorations are "clustered". :)

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  15. Your tree is wonderful Becks. Full of memories and very unique Christmas decorations.

    I have a few decorations like that but nowhere near as many as you do!

    Hide the pickle? Really?

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  16. Oh your tree looks delightful, and how special to have all those little reminders of special occasions. Lovely FTF. Have a lovely Christmas and happy holidays :-)

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  17. Love the tree and the trip down memory lane. Great FTF catch up with you next year.

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  18. Wonderful decorations, and a lovely tree! thanks for sharing! :)

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