Trees v2011

I've been so busy this year working on my dining room project that I have not shared much of my Christmas decorating.  This year we have several trees.  Our main tree is traditionally decorated in our family ornament collection, which includes many homemade ornaments and things the kids made over the years.  It looks pretty much the same each year but that is ok, I enjoy the tradition of it and looking at the ornaments.  This year the kids decorated the tree the day after Thanksgiving.  Son-in-law Simon helped out.

As did youngest daughter Danielle, home from college for a few days:

Oldest daughter Stephanie:

All finished and lit up:

When the kids were younger I had them paint ceramic ornaments for the tree, and a few years ago we did it again as a fun project when they were young adults.  Some of the ornaments had little banners so you could add a holiday message.  Steph painted this one to commemorate her relationship with her then-boyfriend (now-husband) Simon:

Simon painted this one, which still makes us laugh each year when we get it out to put it on the tree:

In the kitchen I have a little corner tree.  I just bought this little tree last month and I love that it's all twiggy and scraggly looking like a Charlie Brown tree.

I added some Dollar Tree snowflakes, my vintage-style kitchen implement ornaments, and some cinnamon cut-outs that my mom made.  I think they suit my little kitchen tree perfectly.

Charlie Brown would approve, I think.

And lastly, my little dining room tree in silver pinecones and snowflakes.

That's it for 2011, maybe.  I have some ideas for changes but I may force myself to wait for 2012, in order to have more time to relax and enjoy the season, watching my favorite holiday movies, baking cookies, and hanging out with my girls.  A few of my favorite things, as the song goes.