While we are in final preparations for Christmas, I thought I would share with you one of our family traditions that we started about ten years ago. As our family grew, it just became out of control and super expensive to send gifts to everyone each year, so we decided on an ornament exchange. Every family (my parents, and each of my three siblings and their families) has 4 ornaments to open on Christmas morning. Here’s how it works:
Each family buys or creates five of the same ornaments- keeps one for themselves and then sends one to each family. I often make extra ornaments to pass along to special friends and extended family as well. The ornaments may be handcrafted, store bought (or store bought and then embellished), photo ornaments…whatever works that year for each family. It’s so much fun to open them and see the creations or how much the nieces and nephews (or dogs) have grown in the photo ornaments. It’s also so wonderful to know that our trees have a common theme- “Family,” even though they are thousands of miles apart.
Here’s a sampling of some of the ornaments over the years that have been shared.
As you can see, they range from some of my early holiday paintings to a beautiful Santa made by Mom, beach inspired baubles to photos…all kinds of themes. It’s always fun to unwrap them each year!
Merry Christmas!
